A 24-year-old Wisconsin woman has been sentenced to probation after leaving three toddlers alone in her care in a car for nearly 90 minutes while she got her nails done at a local salon. Hannah Sprang was convicted of three counts of child neglect but will avoid time behind bars, according to court records.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred on July 7, when Sprang, who was at a local spa, left three children, aged 1 and 2, unattended in her SUV. At approximately 12:17 p.m., police responded to a report of children left alone in a car. Upon arriving, officers found Sprang inside the vehicle, caring for the toddlers.
Initially, she seemed unconcerned by the situation and made several excuses about why she had left the children in the vehicle. She explained that she had an appointment for 11 a.m. at the nail salon but was made to wait, stating she had checked on the children several times during her appointment.
However, surveillance footage from the salon contradicted her account. The footage revealed that Sprang sat down for her appointment at 10:49 a.m. and didn’t check on the children until 11:49 a.m., an hour after she sat down.
She remained at the salon until 12:17 p.m., making the total time the children were left alone in the car one hour and 28 minutes. Despite this evidence, Sprang appeared unfazed when confronted by officers.
Environmental Conditions
While the outside temperature was mild at 69 degrees, the interior of the vehicle, which was not running, reached a temperature of 81.1 degrees. This raised concerns about the safety of the children during the time they were left unattended.
Legal Consequences
Sprang was charged with three counts of child neglect. Two of those counts were reduced from felonies to misdemeanors, and a third felony charge was deferred for three years under the terms of a plea agreement.
If she complies with court conditions—one of which includes a permanent ban from offering babysitting or daycare services—the felony charge will be dismissed.
During Monday’s sentencing hearing, the parents of one of the 2-year-old victims provided a statement, revealing the lasting emotional impact on their child. “Even today, there are still moments when we pull into a parking spot and he says, ‘Don’t leave me in here,'” the statement read.
Sprang will serve probation rather than jail time, but her actions have left a lasting impact on the victims and their families.
