Father Charged With Abuse After Child Found In Hot Car

Missy Stoddard
The Tampa Tribune
March 10, 2003


NEW PORT RICHEY - Pasco sheriff's deputies arrested a Brooksville man on Saturday and charged him with aggravated child abuse and possession of cocaine after authorities learned his child had been left inside his car while he drank beer inside a New Port Richey topless bar.

A sheriff's report said Christopher Lee Blanton, 26, left his daughter, whose age was unknown, strapped in her car seat for about two hours while he drank beer inside the Calendar Girls club. The temperature was about 82 degrees and two of the car's windows were cracked about 6 inches, according to the report.

A witness, who noticed the child crying and sweating about 2 p.m., said he got the baby out of the car, gave her water and called authorities. Witnesses said Blanton walked outside four or five times, for a few minutes each time, between noon and 2 p.m. Blanton told the arresting deputy that he "screwed up," according to the report.

The deputy found cocaine on Blanton when he was searched, the report stated. Blanton was being held at the Land O' Lakes jail with bail set at on $15,000.

Reporter Missy Stoddard can be reached at (813) 779-4635.