An Indianapolis man was sentenced on Friday after pleading guilty to leaving a child in a hot car last June.
Carson Collins, 24, received a two-year prison sentence on February 27 after pleading guilty to felony abandonment of a dependent. Collins also pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving while suspended and was sentenced to a year of probation after being released from prison.
Collins was compelled to take parenting programs during his probation.
According to court filings, on June 28, 2025, a good Samaritan drove to the Greenwood Park Mall and parked next to a car with a child asleep in the back seat. The vehicle was not operating, and all of the windows and doors were closed.
The kind Samaritan then contacted 911 to report the incident. An officer from the Greenwood Police Department came on the scene and helped the child out of the automobile.
The outdoor temperature was reportedly 85 degrees at the time of the event, with the Greenwood Fire Department determining the internal temperature of the car to be 124 degrees.
Thankfully, court filings state that the child was unhurt.
Collins returned to his car approximately 20 minutes after the initial 911 call and informed officers that he had left the infant inside while he walked into the mall to acquire cash and sunglasses.
“The outcome of this case could have been far worse,” Johnson County Prosecutor Lance Hamner said. “We are grateful to the Good Samaritan, law enforcement, and the fire department for working together to ensure the safety of the child. We do not believe Mr. Collins acted with evil intent, but he was undeniably irresponsible. When a child’s safety is at stake, there is no room for irresponsibility. We hope this sentence gives Mr. Collins the opportunity to reflect on what it truly means to be responsible for a tiny human being.”
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