A Benton woman is facing charges after allegedly leaving her infant behind in a parking lot in Bryant.
Late Saturday, Bryant Police officers received a call that a 2-month-old baby was left in a shopping cart at the Bryant location of Walmart. Officers say they arrived to find a witness watching the baby and after interviewing the witness, they determined that the mother pushed the shopping cart into the cart corral, along with her baby and her wallet, and then left the area in a vehicle. Witnesses gave a description of the vehicle, but since the mother also left her wallet behind, it was much easier to track down Lessie Marhanka, age 22, of Benton.
When Marhanka returned to the scene with her husband, officers say she was upset and was taken into custody. Police say they found four white prescription pills in her possession. Marhanka was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Minor 1st Degree (DFelony); and Possession of a Controlled Substance Schedule I/II.
The Department of Human Services was notified and the child was released to the custody of the grandmother after being checked out at Saline Memorial Hospital.