Arrest of Rhode Island Gamblers for Allegedly Abandoning Children in Vehicles During Gambling Sessions
In Lincoln, police apprehended two individuals, Brenda Gonzalez and Wilfredo Urbina Delgado, on charges of child cruelty and neglect, following an incident where they allegedly left two children, ages 11 and 7, unattended in a vehicle while they engaged in gambling activities at Bally's Twin River Casino.
The incident transpired around 5 pm on May 23. Upon receiving a report about unattended minors in the casino parking lot, police officers found the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Wilfredo Urbina Delgado. He admitted to leaving the children inside the vehicle while he searched for his friend, Brenda Gonzalez, within the casino.
The Lincoln Police Department expressed concern over such incidents, stating that they encounter several cases annually where adults neglect their duty to care for children at casinos. This behavior is deemed both dangerous and unacceptable, according to a spokesperson. The department emphasized their commitment to ensuring that anyone endangering a child is held accountable under the law.
While cases like these occur from time to time across multiple jurisdictions, states employ a mix of legal actions and regulatory measures to address the issue. For instance, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board places individuals on Involuntary Exclusion Lists if they violate rules, such as leaving minors unattended while gambling.
Following Delgado and Gonzalez's arrest, Lincoln police reported the incident to the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), and the children were placed in the care of a family member present at the scene. Delgado faced a $20,000 personal recognizance bail and was taken to the ACI in Cranston as a bail violator, while Gonzalez was released on the same bail amount.
The Lincoln Police Department expressed gratitude to Bally's Twin River Casino security personnel for their assistance in the case. Bally's referred all media inquiries to the Lincoln Police Department, with whom they are cooperating fully.
The Bally's Twin River Casino incident, where two individuals were charged with child neglect and cruelty, was a case of gambling-related child endangerment, classified under general news and crime and justice categories. Despite such incidents happening occasionally in various locations, authorities are taking actions to prevent such abuse, with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board maintaining Involuntary Exclusion Lists for offenders who neglect children while gambling.
