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Nanny Locks Child in Van to go on illegal shopping spree
– fighting possible deportation to Guyana
HICKSVILLE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – A nanny is accused of leaving a toddler alone in a hot minivan while she went
Christine Nunes
on an illegal shopping spree inside a Long Island store.
The incident occurred around 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Broadway Mall in Hicksville.
Christine Nunes, 37, of Lynbrook left the three-year-old girl she was caring for in the backseat of a locked 2006 Dodge Caravan while she went inside a Target store, police said.
Someone saw the child in the vehicle and called police.
Detectives said the girl was in the minivan for about 35 minutes with the windows rolled up and was sweating and visibly hot when officers arrived, CBS 22 s Jennifer McLogan reported.
“The officers quickly removed the child from the car,” Nassau County Police Insp. Kenneth Lack said. “The car was well over 100 degrees, according to officers at the scene.”
The child was taken to a local hospital where she was treated for dehydration before being released to her father, police said.
Nunes, who worked for a Plainview family, was arrested after she returned to the minivan with items she had shoplifted from Target, police said. The alleged shoplifting spree was caught on camera.
Defense attorney David Ledgin said his client is a “very troubled woman” with a history of mental health issues.
“She’s alleged to have taken $45 worth of merchandise at a time when she had approximately $1,000 on her, that should tell you something,” Ledgin told reporters, including WCBS 8802 s Sophia Hall. “She wouldn’t hurt a fly knowingly, I think she’s just in a very bad place mentally.”
“It’s a very tragic case, thank God it wasn’t worse,” Ledgin added.
Nunes, who has four young children of her own, is charged with petty larceny and reckless endangerment. She has five prior arrests, mostly for larceny-type offences, Lack said.
She was arraigned before Nassau District Court Judge Tricia Ferrell, who set bail at $50,000 cash or bond, 1010 WINS’ Mona Rivera reported. A stay away order was issued on behalf of the victim.
Nunes’ husband also attended the court appearance in a show of support, calling her a great mother to their children, McLogan reported.
Shoppers at the Broadway Mall told McLogan the incident, especially because Nunes has prior arrests, highlights the need for background checks when hiring nannies and baby sitters.
“I think absolutely, makes me sick,” said Hicksville parent Nicole Hilton.
“I can’t believe anybody to trust your children with,” said Bethpage parent Vanessa Marcotrigiano.
Nunes has also been fighting possible deportation to Guyana, sources told Rivera.
She is due back in court on Friday.
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