Bismarck woman pleads guilty to child abuse or neglect

April 22, 2013 4:21 pm • By Jenny Michael

 

A Bismarck woman has pleaded guilty to felony charges for leaving two toddlers home alone.

Bonnie Packineau, 26, pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of Class C felony child abuse or neglect. South Central District Judge Bruce Haskell ordered a presentence investigation.

Packineau was accused of leaving a 2-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl home alone on March 12. A neighbor found the boy outside the home, screaming. Burleigh County Assistant State’s Attorney Lloyd Suhr said it was 15 degrees outside at the time.

Packineau told officers she went to Mandan to pick up a friend and couldn’t handle all of her children in the car at the same time. At her initial court appearance, she said she also has a 7-month-old and a 5-year-old.

Packineau’s attorney, Amanda Harris, said Packineau has been complying with Burleigh County Social Services.

In an unrelated case, a Mandan woman pleaded not guilty at the Morton County Courthouse on Monday to Class C felony child abuse or neglect. Tamri Stewart, 35, is slated to appear in court again on May 28.

Stewart is accused of allowing her 10-year-old daughter to live in an unsanitary home. Court documents say an officer and social workers reported dog feces and garbage was scattered throughout the home, and the girl was home alone when an officer went to the home.