Dad who left 2-year-old daughter in truck at strip club faces court date (Los Angeles County, California)

Of course, no one asks the most natural question of all: Why wasn't this 2-year-old girl at home with her mother instead of out "carousing" with Daddy?

Dad is identified as SANTOS BARILLAS.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/02/van-nuys-strip-club-dad-toddler.html

Man who allegedly left child in truck at strip club faces court date
February 25, 2013 | 1:12pm

A father accused of leaving his 2-year-old daughter in a pickup truck while he drank inside a Van Nuys strip club is awaiting a March court date after his release from jail over the weekend.

Santos Barillas, 24, of Canoga Park was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment and other charges shortly after midnight on Saturday, KTLA reported. He was held on $15,000 bail, but online jail records indicated he was released Saturday afternoon.

Barillas had not yet been charged as of Monday afternoon, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. Online jail records showed he was scheduled to appear in court March 20.

Police were called to the 7557 Club on Woodley Avenue after 911 dispatchers got a call that the toddler was locked in a truck parked outside, KTLA reported. There, officers found Barillas asleep at the wheel, with the girl in the back seat.

Barillas was taken into custody and representatives of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services were called to assist with the care of the child, officials said.

Investigators interviewed several bar patrons and workers who confirmed the man was inside the club without the child, police said. The suspect was allegedly intoxicated at the time of his arrest, officials said.

Officials said the temperature in the truck was about 45 degrees.