SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A Seminole County mother is accused of leaving her 7-year-old son alone and crying at a movie theater.
The boy told investigators his mother left him and her belongings at an Altamonte Springs movie theater Thursday night.
Police said they were alerted when the boy's father called his mother's cellphone and the child answered, crying.
Carolina Uchoa faced a judge on Friday after she was booked into the Seminole County Jail. The child's grandmother turned her daughter in, authorities said.
The judge told Uchoa she was not allowed to have any contact with her son.
Judge: "Do you have any other children?"
Uchoa: "No, sir."
According to a police report, she took her son to the Picture Show, which is a theater in Altamonte Springs.
At some point during the movie, authorities said she left her son and her purse or cellphone behind.
The child went to the parking lot, but couldn't find his mother's car anywhere. Authorities said his father called Uchoa's phone to see how their day was going and the son was crying. Investigators said the boy told them his mom had left him at the theater and that she was drinking "mean juice" again and that was their code for alcohol.
It wasn't until five hours later that Uchoa turned up, authorities said.
Uchoa's mother tracked her down at a friend's house and turned her into police, authorities said.
The grandmother said her daughter appeared to heavily intoxicated.
Uchoa will not be allowed to get out of jail because she was already on probation for charges of criminal mischief from 2012.
The Department of Children and Families told WFTV they are looking into the case. The 7-year-old is with his father.
WFTV
