Teen Mother Accused Of Leaving 2-Week-Old Daughter, 1-Year-Old Son In Sweltering Car

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — An 18-year-old mother was charged Tuesday with misdemeanor child abuse after allegedly leaving her two-week-old infant daughter and 1-year-old son in a locked car Saturday so she could go shopping in Cudahy.

Arely Aide Amaya, of Los Angeles, was arrested Saturday after police responded to calls of a baby girl and boy in a locked car with the windows partially rolled down. The high temperature in Cudahy Saturday was more than 90 degrees.

Deputies who responded were able to unlock the car and rescue the children.

Amaya had been shopping for a dress at a nearby store, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. She was arrested when she returned to the car and her children were taken into protective custody.

Amaya is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon and prosecutors will ask that bail be set at $50,000, the District Attorney's Office said.

If convicted on the two counts of misdemeanor child abuse, Amaya faces up to two years in jail.