Sentencing is Dec. 17 for a 43-year-old California babysitter who admitted leaving her 2-year-old charge strapped in a stroller on the ninth floor of a Stateline casino.
Kimberly Sue Hahn pleaded guilty to child endangerment, a gross misdemeanor, and faces up to one year in jail.
In exchange for Hahn’s guilty plea, the state agreed to recommend 180 days in the Douglas County Jail, reduced to two years of probation, on the condition she no longer care for children. Hahn also must stay out of Douglas County bars and gaming establishments and abstain from drugs and alcohol, including medical marijuana.
According to reports, the girl was found June 22, 2012, in her stroller, crying in the hallway on the ninth floor of Harvey’s hotel casino.
Patrons had contacted security about 9:30 p.m. after they found the child unattended. She had soiled her diaper and clothing. Hahn’s purse and photo ID reportedly were hanging from the stroller.
The casino sent an employee to stay with the child while deputies and security personnel attempted to find Hahn or the child’s parents. Hahn reportedly showed up at the front desk looking for the little girl. She was slurring her words and stumbling.
She was unable to give authorities information about the child’s parents. Hahn later said she was the family’s regular babysitter and had left the child to find a diaper. Authorities determined the little girl was alone for at least 15 minutes.
Hahn was intoxicated and reportedly had six prescription bottles in her purse and bottles of alcohol.
Security found the parents, who said they had hired Hahn in the past and never had problems.
Hahn told District Judge Tod Young on Tuesday she has been sober for more than a year. She recently was released from El Dorado County Jail after one year in custody.
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