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Sep. 09, 2006
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal


Three face no charges over child left in van

After 40 minutes, 4-year-old girl was rescued from vehicle where temperature hit 124 degrees

By DAVID KIHARA
REVIEW-JOURNAL

The Clark County district attorney will not bring criminal charges against two Child Haven employees and a former employee who left a 4-year-old girl inside a van for 40 minutes during a 102-degree day.

District Attorney David Roger said his office reviewed the Metropolitan Police Department's investigation report but decided the workers did not leave the child inside the van intentionally.

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"Detectives were unable to uncover any evidence that these workers intentionally left this child in the vehicle," Roger said Friday.

Nevada law states authorities must prove that a child was intentionally left inside a vehicle before criminal charges can be brought.

Tom Morton, director of the county Department of Family Services, said in a prepared statement that the department's policies and procedures have been changed to make sure workers do not leave children in vehicles in the future.

"We have revised our protocols and practices to prevent a recurrence and ensure that all children are safe while in our care at Child Haven," Morton said.

"This was an unfortunate incident that has had a tremendous effect on the child's extended family and staff at Family Services."

The girl was left in the van on July 26. Police identified the three workers involved as Dreana Sweeney, Dierdre Johnson and Jean Snytsheuvel.

The police report names Johnson as the person responsible for the 4-year-old. It said that Johnson "failed to exercising due care" in making sure the 4-year-old was taken off the bus.

When the child was found, she was covered in sweat from head to toe, the report said.

The temperature inside the van was 124 degrees, it said.

The child was taken to a hospital and released back into county custody.

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