A 53-year-old grandmother in the North Star State will not spend any more time in jail after admitting to getting drunk and abandoning her infant grandchild in a roadside ditch on a cold, rainy, and windy Minnesota day.
Otter Tail County District Judge Michael D. Fritz sentenced Anastasia E. Vaughn to 45 days in jail on Tuesday, but suspended the sentence for two years, allowing Vaughn to make up the time by completing 492 hours of community service within a year, according to court documents reviewed by Law&Crime. The sentence came after Vaughn reached an agreement with prosecutors to plead guilty to one count of endangering a child in a situation that could result in death or harm, a gross misdemeanor. She was also ordered to pay $585 in fines and court costs, and she will serve an additional two years on probation after completing her community service.
Vaughn faced a maximum of 364 days in jail and a $3,000 fine.
As previously reported by Law&Crime, the incident occurred on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, approximately 175 miles northwest of Minneapolis, according to a probable cause affidavit.
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According to authorities, around 4:30 p.m., a driver called the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office to request a welfare check on an infant child. A man was reportedly driving along Cedar Park Loop near Swan Lake when he noticed a woman — later identified as Vaughn — walking in a wooded area near the road with a baby.
Despite the fact that it was raining, windy, and about 50 degrees outside, the driver reported that the woman was not wearing shoes. When the man pulled over to speak with the woman, she replied that she and the child were “fine” and continued walking.
A short time later, the man pulled over and stated that he saw the woman fleeing from a roadside ditch and did not appear to be holding the baby. The driver went to investigate and allegedly discovered the baby on the ground in the ditch. He reportedly picked up the infant and dialed 911.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived and found Vaughn walking through the woods near the ditch where the baby had been left alone. Deputies observed that Vaughn stumbled when walking, reeked of alcohol, and slurred her words when speaking. Her eyes were also described as bloodshot and watery.
Authorities quickly identified Vaughn as the baby’s grandmother, though she reportedly seemed unsure.
Deputies reported that Vaughn “seemed confused and said she was looking for a child but was unable to answer specific questions.”
“She said she did not remember what happened and when asked how much she had to drink she would not say,” according to the indictment.
Vaughn’s husband, the child’s grandfather, arrived at the scene and informed authorities that he and his wife lived nearby. He also confirmed that Vaughn had consumed alcohol that day. Vaughn took a breath test, and her blood alcohol content was 0.229, nearly three times the Minnesota legal limit for driving.
