Dad Abandons 3 Kids at Cedar Point for Rides

Ohio Father Charged for Leaving Kids Unattended at Amusement Park

An Ohio man was charged after leaving his children unattended for "an extended period of time" while riding roller coasters at Cedar Point last weekend.

The father, a 36-year-old Kansas resident, took his four kids − aged 2, 4, 8, and 9 − to the amusement park on Friday, according to Lt. C. Denny of the Sandusky Police Department.

While at the park, the man decided to go on a ride with his eldest child, leaving the 8-year-old to watch over the youngest two. The trio was left unattended without adult supervision for a considerable amount of time.

An incident report obtained by USA TODAY revealed that a woman spotted one of the children near the Magum XL-200 coaster "playing in the dirt." When she walked with the child toward another attraction called the Corkscrew, she observed the other sibling alone in a wagon. She waited about 20 minutes until the father returned.

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When speaking with an officer at the scene, the man admitted that he left the children several times.

"I asked [the man] how many rides he rode and left the children unattended. [He] stated three but one of the rides he rode twice," the officer wrote in the report. "Due to the statements that [he made] it was determined that [the children] had been left unattended multiple different times throughout the day."

The man was charged with endangering children, a misdemeanor, for failing to watch the children, "which could result in causing substantial risk," police said. Due to the man being the children's sole guardian, a judge allowed him to be released on his own recognizance.

According to the incident report, his case was reported to the Seneca County Department of Job and Family Services.

Last year, Ohio mother Kristel Candelario was arrested and charged in connection to the death of her 16-month-old child after authorities said she left her daughter alone at her home while she went on vacation for about 10 days.

In March, Candelario was sentenced to life in prison, according to multiple reports.

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.