Woman Avoids Jail After Abandoning Boy in Mall for 4 Hours

A Massachusetts woman won't serve time behind bars for leaving her 7-year-old nephew alone in the Mall at Rockingham Park for four hours while she shopped for clothing, as the woman received a $500 fine after pleading guilty in court Monday, according to the Eagle-Tribune.

The Eagle-Tribune has reported that the attorney for Ana Matos, 45, of Lawrence, Mass., said the July 26 incident "was an error of judgment" and that Matos "regrets even being in this position." Half of Matos' fine is suspended for two years, according to the Eagle-Tribune.

Matos was charged with child endangerment after the boy was located wandering around the Microsoft store alone for roughly four hours. 

Mall security attempted to locate the child’s parents or guardians without success, and upon arrival numerous Salem officers and detectives canvassed the mall, interviewed witnesses and reviewed video.

At approximately 2:15 p.m., police received surveillance video from the Microsoft store that showed Matos with the child. The still photo from the video depicted the female as wearing a red sweater and T-shirt with an American flag on it.

Shortly after reviewing the photo, officers observed the woman walking by the Microsoft store. When stopped by police, Matos said she was looking for her nephew, but she was observed carrying three shopping bags containing more than $500 in clothing, which police said was an indication she was shopping and not looking for the lost child. 

Matos acknowledged she left her nephew by the Microsoft store and had been looking for him. When asked why she did not notify mall security or Salem Police in reference to her lost nephew, she had no answer.