Woman makes nephew, 11, ride in trunk

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EDINA, Minn., Sept. 18 (UPI) -- A woman from the upscale Minneapolis suburb of Edina is facing charges she made her 11-year-old nephew ride in the trunk of her Lexus, police say.

Susan Marie McCarty, 38, allegedly told police she gave the boy the less-than-optimal seating arrangement so he wouldn't drip water on her luxury car's leather seats, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. The boy was damp after going on a water ride at a Twin Cities-area amusement park, a criminal complaint stated.

Witnesses reported seeing the boy climb into the trunk in the Valleyfair parking lot Aug. 23 and called police, who pulled McCarty over. She told them the backseat console was folded down so he could get some air.

The newspaper said McCarty said Tuesday she "didn't assess the situation" and never intended to harm her nephew.

She is now charged with child endangerment and could face up to a year in prison and $3,000 in fines if found guilty.