Virginia mother convicted of child neglect after son walked alone

Karyann Parkinson, a 36-year-old mother in Williamsburg, Virginia, has been convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The conviction follows an incident in which she allowed her 5-year-old son, Samuel, to walk alone to a nearby pond to collect goose feathers.

The incident occurred within Ford’s Colony, a gated residential community with private security. A security guard encountered the child and escorted him home, leading to a dispute with Parkinson regarding neighborhood rules and legal requirements for child supervision. Following an investigation by police and child protective services, Parkinson faced legal action.

During a trial held on August 21, Parkinson received a six-month sentence, which was suspended, allowing her to remain free. However, she will be placed on the Virginia child abuse and neglect registry for seven years. As a result of this conviction, she is prohibited from volunteering at her son’s school until he reaches the sixth grade.