Man accused of leaving kids in car waives charges
A Uniontown man accused of leaving his two young children inside a car in 90-degree weather while he shopped for new shoes in South Union Township waived all charges against him to court Wednesday. State police Trooper Timothy Selden said Robert Conklin, 24, of 31 Peary St. was charged before Magisterial District Judge Joseph M. George Jr. with endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person.
Conklin waived both charges to Fayette County Court during a hearing held Wednesday morning before George.
Selden said the incident occurred around 12:50 p.m. July 23 outside the Wal-Mart Supercenter. Selden said several witnesses heard two children crying inside Conklin’s Ford Taurus, which was parked at the retail store.
A small crowd of witnesses gathered outside the car and monitored the children, a 5-year-old boy and a baby girl, while awaiting the arrival of police and Conklin, Selden said.
Selden said that when he arrived, Conklin had just returned to his car. Selden said he found both children inside the car, hot and sweating, but otherwise unharmed.
Conklin told police that he left the children in the car while he shopped for a new pair of shoes.
Selden noted that the temperature at the time was 93 degrees.
Fayette County Children and Youth Services assisted in the investigation.