Toddler Found Wandering at Mall Twice in One Day

A mother and her boyfriend were held for court Monday on charges of endangering the welfare of a child.

Monica Moskal and David Grant Weaver, of 290 Scott Ln., Venetia, are both facing the felony to the third degree charge after Moskal's 3-year-old boy was found wandering at twice in one day.

dropped a simple assault charge against Weaver during his preliminary hearing Monday.

A security manager testified during that one of his officers saw the little boy unattended on the escalator on April 4. He reunited the boy with Moskal and asked her to watch the child, according to testimony.

About one hour later, when Weaver came to the mall to meet Moskal and the boy, a mother and daughter leaving the mall testified they saw the 3 year old in the parking lot in front of the food court entrance. They ran after the boy, brought him into the food court and contacted mall security.

Moskal retrieved the boy and brought him to the table where her boyfriend had the food they had ordered when the boy wandered away. Moskal did not contact security or police when she went looking for her son.

A food court employee testified that she saw Weaver "jerk" one of the boy's arms and "wail on his butt" and lower back region five to six times. She said the child was crying.

There was no proof the boy was injured and Wyda determined Weaver did not intend to cause bodily harm to the boy during the spankings; therefore he dropped the simple assault charge against Weaver.

Mall security contacted Bethel Park police after the incidents. They interviewed Moskal and Weaver at the police station the next day before charging them.

What do you think of the child endangerment charges against Moskal and Weaver? Do you think Weaver should have spanked the boy in the food court? Tell us in the comments.