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Mom who left boy in Mesa faces neglect charge
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A Phoenix woman’s night of fun at a Mesa restaurant and arcade evolved into a criminal charge Tuesday after she lost track of her 5-year-old son for 18 hours.
Watch Tribune reporter Nicole Beyer's report
Woman tells police missing boy is her son
Mesa police are going to ask city prosecutors to file a misdemeanor charge of child neglect against Pearl Yonko, 29, the mother of the boy, who was found wandering alone at 10 p.m. at Amazing Jakes Food & Fun, 1830 E. Baseline Road.
The child told authorities he had come to the amusement center with his family, but he couldn’t provide additional details, such as his last name or parents’ names.
Detective Chris Arvayo, Mesa police spokesman, said Yonko was under the belief that her son was going home with a relative, but she never checked if he made it there until 4 p.m. Monday.
The child is under the care of CPS for now, Arvayo said.
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