Dad charged after keeping kids in bedroom for 7 hours without food or water; 5-year-old treated for dehydration (Gastonia, North Carolina)

Dad SIDNEY LAMAR ALLEN has been charged with child abuse after he held his 12-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son captive in a bedroom for seven hours. The dad did not provide food or water. The 5-year-old was later treated for dehydration at the hospital. No indication here of what triggered this little Daddy Drama. Is he married to the children's mother? Divorced? Not a word of explanation. I'm just glad nobody was killed in this one.

http://www.gastongazette.com/news/child-48354-children-keeping.html

Dad faces child abuse charges for keeping kids in bedroom
June 18, 2010 5:03 PM
Corey Friedman

A Gastonia man faces child abuse charges for allegedly keeping his children in a bedroom for seven hours.

Sidney Lamar Allen, 43, of 1516 Vanderlip Drive, Gastonia, held his 12-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son in the room at his home from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. last Sunday, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. The father allegedly did not provide food or water and would not allow either child to leave the room.

Allen kept the children confined “without any justification,” a warrant states.

The 5-year-old has Down syndrome and was treated for dehydration at Gaston Memorial Hospital, according to the affidavit. The children’s mother gave testimony to Gaston County Magistrate Judge R.B. Stacy, who found probable cause to issue warrants for Allen’s arrest.

Gastonia police arrested Allen on Friday and charged him with two counts each of misdemeanor child abuse and false imprisonment. He was released on a $2,500 unsecured bond and ordered to have no contact with the children until the case is resolved in court.