Woman accused of leaving children in car is released

Wednesday, July 14, 2004 | 10:38 a.m.

A 31-year-old mother accused of leaving her two children in a parked car in a northeast Las Vegas strip mall on Monday was released from custody by Las Vegas Justice of the Peace James Bixler today.

Bixler said because Tina Taylor, who is charged with two counts of child endangerment, had no criminal record whatsoever and had been a resident of Las Vegas for nine years, he was "not going to hold her in custody."

Taylor's children, a 2-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy, were left unattended inside a maroon Buick LeSabre, parked in front of a Factory 2-U store at 141 N. Nellis Blvd., near Charleston Boulevard, with the windows rolled up during what was the hottest day of the year for about 45 minutes, according to police.

Bixler said Taylor would be required to check in with the court's intake office three times a week, once in person and twice by telephone, to assure him of her whereabouts. He scheduled a preliminary hearing for Sept. 13.

Taylor had been held at Clark County Detention Center since her arrest on $6,000 bail.

Monday's high was 109, the hottest temperature recorded in the Las Vegas Valley this year, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures inside a sun-baked vehicle can rise as much as 30 degrees higher than the outside temperature, authorities have said.