LSN

HAMMOND -- Three children under age 7 were left unattended at a fast-food eatery when their caretaker went home to have some more wine.

Tangipahoa Sheriff Daniel Edwards said Curtis Woods, 58, of Hammond left children ages 4, 5 and 6 behind. A citizen called to report the trio walking in the roadway unattended.

They told deputies they had gone to the rest room and when they returned Woods was gone, so they decided to walk home.

Deputies contacted their mother, who soon arrived, as did Woods who created a disturbance in the Burger King.

The relationship between the two, if any, was not released, nor was there any indication given as to why the children were entrusted to Woods.

Woods advised that he brought the children to the restaurant, and left them unattended in his vehicle as he went inside. He said when he came out of the restaurant five minutes later the children were gone.

Woods said that he figured someone picked them up, so he went home and started consuming wine.

He was charged with three counts of cruelty to a juvenile, 3 counts of criminal abandonment and disturbing the peace.