Dad leaves toddler in freezing van while he gambles (Calgary, Canada)

UNNAMED DAD has admitted that he left his underdressed toddler alone in a freezing van while he was gambling at a casino. So did Dad have custody or visitation or what? Why wasn't this child at home with Mom?

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Calgary+admits+leaving+alone+casino+parking/1764711/story.html

Calgary father who left toddler alone in casino parking lot pleads guilty

By Daryl Slade, CALGARY HERALD
July 7, 2009 7:07 AM


CALGARY - A Calgary father has admitted to leaving his scantilly clad toddler alone in a frigid van outside a city casino while he gambled inside for two hours last March.

The 50-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the child’s identity, pleaded guilty Monday to causing or needing protection under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act.
He still faces a criminal charge of abandoning a child, but reserved his plea until sentencing arguments Oct. 8.

A passerby heard the 21-month child crying inside the unheated vehicle; its windows obscured by a blanket and stuffed animals.

The outside temperature was -9 C when the boy was recovered shortly after midnight outside the Silver Dollar Casino.

“The child was in a car seat . . . he had no socks or shoes,” said prosecutor Paul Mason while reading facts of the case Monday. “His hands and feet were cold to the touch.”

The boy was examined at Alberta Children’s Hospital, but was not injured. He remains under temporary guardianship.

The child’s father was arrested while returning to the van soon after the boy was rescued.
Mason said the man was carrying “a significant amount of cash and chips, presumably he picked up at the casino.”

Surveillance video obtained by police showed the accused entered the Silver Dollar Casino at 10:15 p.m. and, aside from leaving for about one minute, was inside until the boy was discovered.
The father was seen at the Silver Dollar hours earlier, though it could not be proven the child was with him.

“My client says the child was not in the vehicle at that time,” said defence lawyer Mark Gottlieb.

The judge ordered pre-sentence and psychological/psychiatric reports to assess his gambling addictions and ability to care for children.