Southern Utah mom accused of not picking up child charged with abandonment

WASHINGTON, Washington County — A southern Utah woman is facing a criminal charge after police say she never picked up her child from day care.

Jessica Louise Babin, 36, of Washington, was charged Monday in 5th District Court with child abandonment, a third-degree felony.

On March 26, Babin was supposed to pick up her 5-year-old child from day care. Employees unsuccessfully attempted to contact Babin, and then by 7 p.m. notified the emergency contact listed for the child, according to charging documents.

"The emergency contact person told police she attempted until 10 p.m. to contact (Babin), but was unable to make contact," the charges state.

Police were called and went to Babin's apartment on March 27. They found her with "poor balance" and "slurred speech" and showing signs of being impaired by drugs, according to the charges.

"(She) told police that the child had only been gone for 20 minutes, when in fact the child had been out of the home for over 24 hours," the charges allege.

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