KINGWOOD – A Kingwood woman was placed on two years probation for child neglect creating risk of death after leaving her child in a locked car while she went into a store to shoplift.
Under a deferred adjudication, if Megan Snyder, of Kingwood, completes two years probation, the charge for child neglect creating risk of death will be dropped and Snyder will be charged only with misdemeanor second-offense shoplifting.
In July 2017, Preston Sheriff’s Deputies said that Snyder, 36, locked her 5-year-old inside a hot vehicle in the Walmart Drive shopping area. Passersby got the child out of the car before police arrived.
According to the criminal complaint: Deputies saw Snyder walk out of the Dollar Tree. She said her child was asleep and she had been gone for five minutes — despite video footage showing her gone for 35 minutes. Dollar Tree employees said Snyder shoplifted while inside.
Snyder’s attorney, Sally Collins, told the Preston Circuit Court that Snyder has been “through extensive long-term therapy and is continuing therapy for her drug abuse problem.” She also asked that the restrictions on her visitations with her two children be changed.
Snyder currently has supervised visitations. Senior Status Judge Larry Starcher said he saw no reason why unsupervised visitation should not given to Snyder. “I wish others could rise to the level you have,” he said.
“I appreciate the opportunities everyone has given me,” Snyder said when asked if she had anything to say. “And for the support I have been given.”
