Pennsylvania

Mom Accused of Leaving Daughter in Cold Van While She Drank Decides to Take Case to Trial

A northeastern Pennsylvania mother who police say left her 2-month-old daughter in a minivan for five hours and while she drank at a bar didn't plead guilty to child endangerment charges as expected Thursday morning.

Prosecutors in Northampton County said that instead of a guilty plea, Lisa Altif decided she wanted her day in court next month.

The 33-year-old mother is accused of leaving her baby in the van for hours while she drank at the Keystone Pub on Easton Avenue in Bethlehem.

Bethlehem Police arrived at the around 11:30 p.m. on March 20 after receiving a call about a baby in a vehicle. They said Altif identified herself as the van's owner but claimed she was only in the bar for 20 minutes.

The bar tab showed Altif had the first of five glasses of wine around 6:30 p.m., five hours earlier.

Police said the baby was buckled into a car seat that was strapped to the minivan's floor because the van lacked a back seat. The baby had a low body temperature from being in the cold van and was hospitalized to warm up.

Altif is charged with child endangerment, driving with a suspended license and related counts. She remained at the county jail unable to post bail 10 percent of $10,000 bail, according to court records.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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