Father Who Left Baby At Stafford 7-Eleven Arrested: Police

STAFFORD COUNTY, VA — A father accused of abandoning his 1-month-old child at a Stafford County 7-Eleven earlier this month has been arrested, the Stafford County Sheriff's Office told Patch.

The man, 32-year-old Joseph Carratura, has been charged with child neglect. On Tuesday, authorities said Carratura was being held in jail.

If convicted of a child neglect charge, Carratura could face up to 5 years in prison, based on Virginia's sentencing guidelines.

Around 6 p.m. on Sept. 17, deputies responded to a medical emergency near Ferry Road and Randolph Road in Stafford. During an investigation, authorities determined a vehicle parked at the 7-Eleven on White Oak Road was involved in the emergency, according to the police report.

The Stafford County Sheriff's Office said it has not released specific details about the nature of the emergency due to laws protecting the privacy of the people who received medical care.

Deputies said they found the 1-month-old infant, who was left unattended in the parked vehicle, at the 7-Eleven. One deputy comforted the child as investigators contacted Carratura, who is the baby's father, according to the sheriff's office.

Authorities said Carratura had been near the scene of the medical emergency earlier in the evening. Deputies told him to come get his child.

Carratura said he would come to the convenience store, police claimed. The sheriff's office said that after 45 minutes, Carratura had still not arrived. The baby was handed over to Child Protective Services.

Authorities were not able to provide an update about whether the child was still in the care of Child Protective Services on Wednesday.