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Marlasia Ashley, 19, of LaGrange and Tashan Petteway, 25, who is homeless, were arrested at approximately 3 a.m. Tuesday in the Town of LaGrange, the sheriff's office said.
Sheriff’s Deputies responded at approximately 12:40 a.m. to Hudson River Housing on Manchester Road in LaGrange after a report of a small child that had been left alone in a room for several hours.
The child, a 1½ year-old girl, was located alone in the room with no caregivers present, the sheriff's office said. It was reported that staff members saw the child’s mother, whom they identified as Ashley, leave the apartment at approximately 10:15 p.m.
The employees then checked on the child and contacted the Sheriff’s Office after Ashley still hadn’t returned at 12:40 a.m.
In addition to the baby being left alone, deputies also discovered a sawed-off shotgun in the room during the investigation, the sheriff's office said.
While deputies were on the scene investigating and making arrangements for the baby, Ashley finally returned at approximately 3 a.m., almost five full hours since she had originally left. Both subjects were taken into custody and Child Protection Services responded to the scene and removed the child.
Ashley has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child (a misdemeanor), and Petteway has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (a felony).
After being processed Ashley was released on an appearance ticket to reappear before the Town of LaGrange Court on July 5, and Petteway was arraigned before the Town of LaGrange Court.
At arraignment Petteway was remanded to the Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 bond.
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