Footage shows Ariz. man in bar after leaving granddaughter in desert with gun

An Arizona man is out of jail, but still facing felony charges after leaving his 5-year-old granddaughter alone in the desert in November with a ready-to-fire gun, while he ate and drank at a bar. 

Paul Rater, a former Marine, told detectives he was driving through the desert with the girl when his truck got stuck. At this point, Rate says they were forced to begin walking, and after a mile the child began to cry, saying she didn't want to walk. 

"...so I said, 'You stay here. Here's my gun. If a bad guy comes, shoot him,'" Rater told detectives. 

According to KPHO, Rater defended his decision by saying his granddaughter knows how to use a gun. 

"She wasn't gonna use it. She's 5. She's not stupid," Rater said. Family members and a veteran firefighter were eventually able to resuce the little girl. 

Rater has been released from custody, but is now facing two felony counts of child abuse and one felony count of child endangerment. 

Contact Ron Paul Gavino at rgavino@reviewjournal.com. Find him on Twitter: @rp_gavino