A Florida babysitter has been charged with child neglect after a young child she was watching was brought to a hospital in the early hours and tested positive for marijuana’s active ingredient. The arrest, made June 19, raises fresh concerns about unsecured substances in homes and the legal risks for caregivers who leave children unattended.
Maribel Plaza, 29, was booked into the Lake County Jail and released on a $5,000 bond the same day. Police records show officers from the Leesburg Police Department were summoned to UF Health — Leesburg just after 1:30 a.m. on June 19, when a neighbor brought a child to the emergency department.
The neighbor told investigators the child had knocked on their door at about 1:00 a.m., seeking help after falling from a bed. At that time, the child appeared weak and lethargic and the neighbor reported there was no adult present at the residence.
June 27 horoscopes: what each sign should expect today
Woman shoots tow truck driver after trying to reclaim Lincoln during tow: police
Hospital testing returned positive for THC, according to the arrest affidavit. While the child slept for much of the visit, police were able to contact family members and verify who had been entrusted with care.
A relative confirmed via video call that Plaza had been the only adult responsible for the child while the family was out of state in Georgia for several days. The child later told officers Plaza left them alone at roughly 10:00 p.m. the night before; no other caregiver had come to the house.
When reached by police, Plaza initially said she believed the family would return later that night. She later acknowledged she had left the child at the family home to spend the night at her boyfriend’s residence, the affidavit states.
The report also notes accessible containers of substances inside the house: a bottle of CBD oil kept in a bathroom cabinet and THC gummies stored in the freezer. Plaza denied giving anything to the child and told officers the child “should not know what they are.” The child was unable to identify what had been consumed.
- Date of incident: June 19 (hospital contact around 1:30 a.m.)
- Charge: Child neglect
- Arrest location: Lake County Jail; booked and later released on bond
- Medical finding: Child tested positive for THC
- Court date: Scheduled for July 13
Leaving a young child unsupervised while caregivers are away can carry both immediate health risks and criminal consequences. Medical providers typically monitor children for symptoms such as drowsiness and respiratory changes after suspected ingestion, and law enforcement may pursue neglect charges when supervision lapses coincide with harm or exposure to dangerous substances.
Plaza remains free on bond and is due to appear in court on July 13. The case underscores ongoing questions about household safety: how potentially harmful items are stored, who is entrusted with child care, and how quickly adults respond when a child shows signs of illness or impairment.
