A 34-year-old Florida grandmother was arrested after she left five children alone at home with no food while she went to the casino.
Crystal Hernandez allegedly left her four children, ages 7 to 12-years old, and her 2-year-old grandchild at a home in Pompano Beach, CBS Miami reported.
Not only were the children left with no food, but police found "feces on the kitchen counter, along with feces on the floor," in the home, the Sun Sentinel reported.
"Dirty clothes were thrown around the residence, along with old food," Broward Sheriff's Deputy Mathew McGee wrote in his report, according to the Sun Sentinel.
On top of that, the house was filled with the stench of urine that was "almost unbearable to stand," McGee wrote.
Hernandez was arrested Tuesday night and released Wednesday on $5,000 bond. She did not seem to have been taking drugs or drinking alcohol, the Sun Sentinel reported.
According to court documents, the kids were discovered when a neighbor saw them walking around asking for food. The neighbor called the police. All five children were removed from the home by child protective services.
The young grandmother, who moved from Kentucky to Florida three months ago, argues she did nothing wrong. She said she had a babysitter and that the children were not abused, CBS Miami reported.
"I am a good person. I take care of my kids," Hernandez said according to CBS 12.
Hernandez also said that she was not gambling at the casino. However, when asked if she was searching for a job, she replied: "No, I was out trying to get my rent paid," CBS 12 reported.
Hernandez was charged with five counts of child abuse without great bodily harm and was ordered to stay away from the children, CBS Miami reported.
Defense attorneys for Hernandez claim her case is more along the lines of neglect and not abuse.
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