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Woman charged after letting 5-year-old son drive

LAFAYETTE, Ind.---- A mother faces two felony neglect charges after prosecutors said she allowed her 5-year-old son to drive her and his younger brother in the woman's car.
Holly L. Schnobrich, 24, of Lafayette was being held under $10,000 bond Thursday in the Tippecanoe County Jail.

According to an affidavit filed Tuesday with the charges, Tippecanoe County sheriff's deputies were called Saturday night to a subdivision east of Lafayette after neighbors reported finding the 5-year-old behind the wheel.

''It was just bizarre,'' Wendy Barrett said of finding a 5-year-old boy driving his seemingly impaired mother and stopping on Barrett's property. ''I asked, 'Is this toddler driving your car?' She said, 'He's a good driver.'''

The 5-year-old and Schnobrich's 3-year-old son who was also in the vehicle were taken into custody by the Department of Child Services.

Barrett said the children were in their pajamas but did not appear hurt or distraught. Neither child was restrained; there were two safety seats in the back seat.

Another neighbor removed the ignition key, Barrett said.

Schnobrich told investigators that she would take a prescription painkiller to calm down when her children acted up, according to the affidavit.

Police also found a near-empty bottle of sleeping pills that Schnobrich said she had bought just two days prior.

The 5-year-old told a sheriff's deputy that he had been driving but was ''having a hard time because I can't reach the pedals.''

Posted by: Darthmat
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Posted in: News on August 31, 2007 @ 12:00 AM

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