Woman charged for leaving baby on street

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SACRAMENTO, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- A Sacramento woman, charged with endangering the life of her 1-month-old grandson, said she left him on a busy sidewalk but did not abandon him.

"I will plead not guilty. I did not endanger my grandson. I love my grandkids," Kit Samuel said.

Samuel, 54, said while she was being evicted from a Motel 6 Friday afternoon, she walked her grandson across the street and left him there to go back and gather her belongings, KTXL-TV, Sacramento, reported.

Witnesses said the infant was left on the street for about 45 minutes. Samuel said she was not more than 500 feet from the baby at any given time.

Deputies contend leaving a child that young for any amount of time is dangerous. Officers also said Samuel was intoxicated when they found her.

Samuel was arrested for child endangerment and public intoxication, but she said she was not drunk.

"I did not drink that day, I drank the night before," Samuel said.