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Florida lawyer charged with leaving youngsters alone on beach

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A Florida attorney is facing felony child neglect charges for allegedly leaving two young girls alone on the beach — with a 3-year-old wandering into the surf by herself.

Patricia Anne Bronson, 41, allegedly left the toddler and her 7-year-old sister alone at Upham Beach Park in St. Pete Beach for up to 45 minutes on Saturday, according to a report in the Tampa Bay Times.

When bystanders alerted police about the unattended youngsters, the older girl told them her little sister was in the water — where deputies found her waist-deep.

Bronson, a Tampa attorney, allegedly admitted that she was caring for the girls and had dropped them off on the beach, then left to park her car, the outlet reported.

Bronson was listed as the children’s “caregiver” on police records. It is not clear if she is related to the pair or was watching them for a relative or acquaintance.

She was charged with two counts of neglect of a child without great bodily harm and booked at the Pinellas County Jail — where she was hit with an additional contraband charge.

Police said jail guards found she carried a small vape pen into the lockup, the Times reported.

She was later released on $15,000 bail pending a return court appearance.

Bronson declined to comment when reached by the Tampa Bay Times.

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Arica Deslauriers

Update: 2024-05-17