Rhode Island Gamblers Arrested for Allegedly Leaving Children Unattended in Vehicle

Lincoln police took two individuals into custody after they allegedly left two children unattended in a vehicle for an extended period while they were gambling at Bally’s Twin River Casino.

Lincoln Police Arrest the Two Gamblers

Brenda Gonzalez, 45, and Wilfredo Urbina Delgado, 41, both from Providence, were charged by police with felony child cruelty and neglect. According to a police statement, at approximately 5 pm on May 23, police responded to a report of two young children left unattended in a vehicle in the casino parking lot. Upon arrival, officers located the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Delgado. He acknowledged to police that he left the children, aged 11 and 7, inside the vehicle while he went into the casino to look for his friend Gonzalez.

A spokesperson for the Lincoln Police Department stated that, unfortunately, the police have to handle several cases annually where adults fail to fulfill their duty to care for children at the casino. Such conduct is both hazardous and unacceptable, according to the spokesperson. The Lincoln Police Department explained that its employees are dedicated to ensuring that anyone who endangers a child is held fully accountable according to the law.

Unfortunately, cases such as these happen sometimes across multiple jurisdictions. Sometimes, state gambling operators also have to intervene. For example, last month, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board put four parents on its exclusion list after they were found to have left their children unattended in vehicles while gambling. 

What Happens Now?

Following Delgado and Gonzalez’s arrest, Lincoln police informed the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) about the incident, and the children were placed in the care of a family member present at the scene. Both Delgado and Gonzalez faced felony charges for cruelty and neglect of a child. Delgado was held on a $20,000 personal recognizance bail and taken to the ACI in Cranston as a bail violator. Gonzalez was released on a $20,000 personal recognizance bail.

The Lincoln Police Department also expressed gratitude to Bally’s Twin River Casino security personnel for their assistance in this case. When asked for a comment, a spokesperson for Bally’s stated that the casino refers all media inquiries to the Lincoln Police Department, with whom Bally’s is fully cooperating.