| Monday, February 22, 2010 |
| Mother says Child Allowed to Chauffeur her to Bars - Sgt. Lesley Hill Peters |
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 Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Golden Meadow mother for putting her children in danger. The arrest followed a traffic stop conducted initially by Golden Meadow Police Saturday night around 12:20 AM near Tiffany’s Bait Shop on Highway 1. The officer stopped the red Jeep Cherokee after observing the driver brake excessively, drive on the shoulder of the road and swerve.
Upon stopping the vehicle, the officer soon realized the driver was just 14 years of age and had his 4-year old sister and 2-year old brother in the vehicle with him. A female Lafourche Parish deputy was called to assist with the situation. While assessing the situation, a second vehicle pulled up with Lance Lee (W/M, DOB 3/20/1980, 120 W. 170th Street, Galliano) driving and Sandy Bellanger (W/F DOB 9/30/1971, 133 W. 225th Street, Golden Meadow) in the passenger seat. Bellanger told officers she was the mother of the children in the Jeep.
Bellanger went on to tell officers that she often allows her 14-year old to drive her to and from bars so she can drink. However, when the 14-year old attempted to retrieve her from TK’s Bar on Highway 3235, she did not want to leave with him. Bellanger contacted a family member to pick up all of the children, none of whom were dressed for cold weather.
During a search of the vehicle Lee and Bellanger were in, an open container of alcohol was found near the passenger seat along with five burnt cigarettes suspected of containing marijuana in the ashtray.
Bellanger was charged with allowing an unlicensed minor to drive (R.S. 32:416), open container (R.S. 32:300), improper supervision of a minor by parent or legal custodian (R.S. 15:32.2) and child desertion (R.S. 14:93.2.1). Bellanger posted the $2,500 bond as set by Judge Hugh Larose.
Lee was charged with driving under suspension for DWI (R.S. 14:98.3), possession of marijuana (R.S. 14:966), failure to carry registration in a vehicle (R.S. 47:506) and for an outstanding arrest warrant for failing to pay fines and costs associated with an earlier DWI arrest. Lee posted the $2,500 bond as set by Judge Hugh Larose and paid the outstanding fines and costs of $361.
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