Fayette County woman accused of leaving 2 mentally challenged men in SUV while she played video poker
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A Fayette County woman caring for two mentally challenged men is accused of leaving them in her SUV for more than an hour while she played video poker inside a Westmoreland County store.
Samantha Kay White, 46, of Dawson, was charged Thursday with neglect of a dependent care person and reckless endangerment by Smithton Police in connection with the Sept. 28 incident.
Smithton Police Chief Michael Natale said the incident occurred outside Jack’s Super Market on the 700 block of Peer Street.
Natale said in court documents that a neighbor of the market stopped him while he was on patrol to express concern about the men. Natale said the woman told him White parked her car near the woman’s home and left two disabled men inside while she went inside for more than an hour.
“She said the men were freaking out and yelling,” Natale said in court documents.
Natale said he located the Honda SUV with the two men still inside. Natale reported in court papers that the doors were unlocked and the keys were left in the ignition.
According to court documents, Natale asked one of the men who was supposed to be watching them and the man said “Samantha.”
Natale reported that he went inside the store and found White still seated at a video poker machine.
“(White) claimed she had been in the store only for a few minutes. She said she stopped to pickup sandwiches for the men,” Natale wrote.
Natale said White disclosed she worked for Advanced Living Options, a Pittsburgh-based firm that provides care for individuals with intellectual disabilities and behavioral health needs.
Natale said store security video showed White was inside the store for one hour and seven minutes from 1:26 until 2:33 p.m.
Natale said he telephoned the chairman of ALO, Jason Coffman, who told him that White should not have left the men in the vehicle for that amount of time.
Attempts to reach both White and Coffman for comment Friday were unsuccessful. Natale said in court documents he also notified Westmoreland County Adult Protective Services and relatives of both men about the incident.
White does not have an attorney listed in court documents. The complaints were sent via mailed summons by Rostraver District Judge Charles Christner’s office.
Christner scheduled a preliminary hearing for Nov. 30.