St. Louis Mother Charged with Child Endangerment for Having Son Drive

A Missouri woman faces felony charges after her 8-year-old son was found driving a car while she was passed out drunk.

Latonya Mayes-Gale, 28, was charged with two counts of felony child endangerment after her son was seen driving in downtown St. Louis.
The incident occurred early Monday morning; the boy was driving because his mother was too intoxicated to drive.
A 3-year-old child was also in the car, unsecured in the backseat, adding to the endangerment charges.
Mayes-Gale, who works as a home health aide, was released on bond pending a future court hearing.
Her attorney argues that the incident was due to unusual circumstances and stresses, not indicative of her general behavior.