Crime & Safety

Update: Grand Jury Indicts Nanny Who Left 3-Year-Old in Hot Car

Lynbrook nanny was accused of leaving a young girl in a car so she could shoplift for 40 minutes before help arrived.

A grand jury has indicted a Lynbrook nanny who left a toddler in a hot car while she shoplifted from Target, the Nassau County District Attorney's Office said Friday. 

Christine Nunes, 37, was arraigned Friday on grand jury charges of first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree reckless endangerment, endangering the welfare of a child, and petit larceny, the DA said. 

If she is found guilty, Nunes faces seven years in prison.

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“Were it not for chance, the quick-thinking of passersby, and the efforts of first responders, this defendant would be facing even more serious charges than those announced today," DA Kathleen Rice said. 

Nunes was arrested after she left the three-year-old she cared for in a hot car so she could shoplift from Target in Hicksville, according to Nassau County Police.

Find out what's happening in Malverne-Lynbrookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The child was left in the car for a total of 40 minutes and once police freed her from the vehicle, she was rushed to Syosset Hospital to be treated for dehydration, cops said. Original police reports estimated she had been locked in the car for 26 minutes and was found at 1:03 p.m.

Nunes was placed into custody by responding officers at the scene and was found with items she had reportedly stolen from Target, cops said. Read the full story here.

Nunes is due back in court Aug. 22.

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