A Florida couple who spent a day at the beach and allegedly left their 6-month-old unattended in a tent for an hour while they strolled along the shore with their three other children will face no additional punishment — provided they stay out of trouble for the next 12 months.
Brian Wilks, 41, and Sara Wilks, 37, faced child neglect without great bodily harm charges, but the couple entered a deferred prosecution agreement. Under its terms, they must complete 25 hours of community service, attend a parenting class, and avoid arrest for one year. Fulfilling those conditions will result in prosecutors dropping the charges.
Other beachgoers noticed the infant alone in the tent and called 911.
“I am calling regarding a child that has been unattended, a baby it’s probably like 6 months, maybe 5 months,” the caller said.
Deputies and paramedics responded to the scene to check on the baby. Bystanders told authorities the couple had walked down the beach and had not returned for some time, according to body-camera footage obtained by Law&Crime.
“They probably have been gone an hour,” one witness said.
The Wilkses eventually returned from their walk, and deputies pressed them to account for their absence.
“This is a big, big issue,” a deputy said.
The couple attempted to claim they had remained in the area, but multiple witnesses contradicted that account. Deputies arrested both parents while the Department of Children and Families took custody of all the children until family members could collect them.
As Law&Crime previously reported, deputies warned the incident could have turned fatal.
“While deputies waited for South Walton Fire District personnel to arrive and assess the infant, the parents returned to the scene, where both admitted to placing the child under the tent for a nap before leaving with their other children, claiming they lost track of time,” a press release from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office said.
The parents had traveled to the Sunshine State from Texas.
“This incident serves as a reminder that even brief moments of inattention can have serious consequences and can sometimes lead to tragic outcomes,” the press release said.
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