Phoenix-area woman offered plea deal after leaving baby in hot car
Jun 2, 2015, 4:53 PM | Updated: 4:53 pm
PHOENIX — A Phoenix-area woman accused of leaving her baby inside of a hot car has been offered a plea deal by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
Suhaylah Shamsiddeen was arrested April 27 in Tempe after someone saw her allegedly leave her 2-month-old infant in a car while she went into a Whole Foods store to buy baby formula. The attorney’s office said the baby was not hurt after being left in the car for 10 minutes.
“The County Attorney’s Office has agreed to offer her a diversion program,” attorney spokesman Jerry Cobb said. “If she successfully completes a child abuse program through Community Health Services, no charges will be filed against her.”
Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery offered a similar deal to Shanesha Taylor after she left her kids in a hot car while she went inside a Scottsdale building for a job interview. Taylor rejected the offer and chose to go to trial. She was sentenced to 18 years probation.
Cobb said deals are offered on a case-by-case basis.
“In any case where we have an opportunity to hold a suspect accountable for their actions and, yet, offer them the chance to correct their behavior, we’ll offer it,” he said.
It is unknown if Shamsiddeen has accepted the offer.
