Mother Arrested After Leaving Small Children in Car at Courthouse
By Rick McCann
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
January 12, 2026
BAY MINETTE, Ala. A woman conducting business at the Baldwin County Courthouse on Thursday, January 8, 2026, found herself in handcuffs and locked up at the Baldwin County Detention Center after police said that she left two children alone in a vehicle for close to two hours.
Someone called police at around 10:15 am and reported that two small children had been left alone inside a car that was turned off with the windows up.
Bay Minette police responded and spotted the vehicle, and EMS was also dispatched.
The children, a 3-year-old and a 4-month-old, were sweating when they were removed from the car, but were ok after being checked out by EMS, according to authorities.
Petronila Vicinte-Gonzales was found to be in the courthouse and was arrested on two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Police said Vicinte-Gonzales had been inside the courthouse since 8:30 am when the kids were found.
The father was notified and responded and took custody of the children.
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