Cranberry woman charged with child endangerment
Cranberry woman is charged with child endangerment after allegedly passing out drunk and leaving her 19-month-old child unattended in her home.
Morgan Leslie McGinley, 24, had a blood-alcohol level of .301 according to a preliminary breath test taken by police on Jan. 5 during a welfare check at her residence.
That night McGinley had been video chatting with her ex-husband John Barnes when she passed out on the living room couch, according to court documents. Barnes called police for a welfare check as he believed McGinley was intoxicated, and their 19-month-old child was running around the house unsupervised.
Barnes said he tried to call McGinley several times, but she would not answer her phone, police said. Officer Justin Hewitt responded around 8:30 p.m. to the house on Day Star Court.
McGinley, who was the sole care giver for her child, had been drinking throughout most of the day and was heavily intoxicated, Hewitt said. He observed that she had bloodshot, glassy eyes, slurred speech and used the walls to maintain balance.
He also observed that house had several safety hazards for an unsupervised child including unsecured stairways, tools, construction equipment and other supplies.
McGinley’s mother was away on business and no other responsible person was available, so Butler County Children and Youth Services took custody of the child.
After she took the preliminary breath test, medics assessed McGinley on the scene and transported her to UPMC Passavant in Cranberry for additional treatment and observation.
McGinley waived one charge endangering the welfare of a child to county court March 31, where she will be arraigned on May 9.
