Mother Charged With Child Abuse After Leaving Children in Hot Car

An 18-year-old woman who allegedly during the Southland's heat wave was charged today with misdemeanor child abuse.

Prosecutors said Arely Aide Amaya left the windows of the vehicle partially rolled down while she was shopping around 12:30 p.m. Saturday, but the children had to be rescued by sheriff's deputies. She was scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon in East Los Angeles.

According to the Sheriff's Department, someone noticed the children inside the car in a parking lot in the 7900 block of Atlantic Avenue and alerted deputies. The temperature in Cudahy at the time was more than 90 degrees.

Amaya was arrested when she returned to the car. She had been shopping for a dress at a nearby store, according to the District Attorney's Office.

The children were turned over to the county Department of Children and Family Services.

She faces up to two years in jail if convicted, according to prosecutors.

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