Mom who left daughter on street to teach her a lesson appears in court | News

JONESBORO, AR (KAIT)
– A Jonesboro mother accused of putting her 5-year-old daughter out of the car to
teach her a lesson, appeared in a Craighead County courtroom Wednesday.

According to Jonesboro District Court Office,
24-year-old Shanique Shelton pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of endangering
the welfare of a minor, and no child restraints. A judge sentenced her to two
days in jail.

According to Jonesboro Police, Shelton said she put
the girl out of her SUV near the intersection of Melrose and Word Cove, near
Shelton's apartment located at 518 Melrose. She says she did it to teach her daughter
a lesson and show her what it would be like not to have her mother around.

Police say the mom then started to pull away and the
girl started crying, and that's when the mom stopped and someone brought the
child back into the car. Shelton says she never intended to leave the child
behind.

Eighteen-year-old Jamikne Gordon and 24-year-old
Markesha Williams, Shelton's cousin, corroborated Shelton's story.  Gordon
said the five-year-old does not "mind her mother". Williams said
leaving the girl outside of the car was a "joke".

Police said three other children under the age of six
were also in the car and not properly restrained.

Police said Shelton changed her story on the way to
the CCDC. She said back door of the vehicle opened, she stopped the car, and
resumed driving once she heard the door close.  Shelton said Williams told
her the five-year-old had fallen out of the car, and she went to pick her up.

Police said the five-year-old was too upset to
communicate, but was not visibly injured.

She would not talk to Region 8 News on camera, but
said the police report is not accurate.

Shelton has 30 days to appeal the judge's decision.

Region 8 news will continue to track this story and
bring you the latest details as soon as they become available.

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