Father reaches agreement with prosecutors in child endangerment case
BULLSKIN TWP. – A Virginia father may not spend any time in jail for leaving his son at an area campground after reaching an agreement Tuesday with prosecutors. Brandon Thompson Sr., 58, of Alexandria and his 7-year-old son walked side by side to their van after the father agreed to attend parenting and anger management classes and waive a single charge of child endangerment to court.
A second charge of reckless endangerment lodged by state police following the Aug. 25 incident was dropped as part of the agreement.
Thompson was slated to appear before District Justice Robert Breakiron for a preliminary hearing in the matter, but a conference held between defense counsel and prosecutor halted his courtroom appearance.
Attorney Jeffrey Proden, legal counsel for Thompson, said that if his client successfully completes the courses that he may be eligible for an alternate disposition when the matter reached the court level, which would translate into no jail time.
“What he did may have been a bad judgment call, but he didn’t hurt the boy,” said Proden, adding that Thompson does not have a criminal record in Fayette County or in Virginia.
According to police, Thompson told his son that because the youngster had not completed a math assignment on time, he was going to be left at the Mountain Pines Resort Campground in Saltlick Township.
The father and son and other family members were vacationing at the campground, according to police.
As Thompson was departing the site, two witnesses saw the child chasing the vehicle and grabbing onto a rear door handle while the vehicle was traveling on the roadway.
Police said Thompson then stopped the vehicle and told the youngster to “get off” and then continued driving along the roadway before being confronted by those who had witnessed the incident.
When asked about the completion of math homework during the summer month, Thompson responded that he gives the child assignments in addition to those given at his school.
Fayette County Assistant District Attorney Jack Heneks said Virginia Children and Youth Services had been advised of the local incident.
Thompson remains free on a $10,000 percentage bond.