Ohio Casino Visitors Arrested After Children Allegedly Left Alone in Vehicle

Posted on: June 12, 2024, 10:16h. 

Last updated on: June 12, 2024, 10:20h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More

Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

Leaving three kids unattended in a parked car at an Ohio gaming property has landed another parent in jail.

Joshua Griffin of Indiana has become the second parent charged with leaving the children unsupervised in the car on May 21. The children were described as twin 18-month-old babies and a seven-year-old, Kentucky TV station WXIX reported.

Griffin was arrested on Saturday and is scheduled to appear in Hamilton County court on Wednesday. He was charged with three counts of endangering children, according to Ohio TV station WKRC.

Griffin and another adult entered the Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati after leaving the car, according to local news reports. It’s unclear if they were gambling while in the building.

Can’t Post Bond

Over recent days, Griffin has been unable to post a $9,000 bond. His lawyer will try to get Griffin released on his own recognizance, according to Ohio TV station WLWT. That means he won’t have to post a bond.

Previously, a judge refused to lower or eliminate the bail amount. The judge pointed out that Griffin not only lives in Indiana, but “he was in the ‘pen [in Indiana] for one year,’” according to records cited in court.

Griffin’s attorney reportedly claims the children are no longer under his care. No details were provided in local media reports on why that’s the case.

Other Parent Charged

The other parent, Kylie Pratt of Rushville, Ind., was previously charged for the incident, but was released from custody without posting a bond. Pratt’s case is still pending in local court.

If convicted, both parents could face a jail sentence and be ordered to pay a fine. Because there are three counts, the length of the sentence and the fine could be tripled.

Pratt, like Griffin, was charged with three counts of endangering children, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.

Before making the arrests, deputies reviewed casino surveillance video which reportedly showed the couple leaving the children in the vehicle. The adults put the children in the car and drove the 80 miles from Rushville, Ind. to the Hard Rock casino.

There’s been no word on how long the three children were left alone in the car before police rescued them and there were no reports that any of the children were injured. Temperatures that day in Cincinnati ranged from 61 to 68 degrees, according to AccuWeather.

It’s unclear who is now taking care of the children.