A Hernando County woman was arrested and charged after leaving her 3-year-old child home alone while she was at the bar. 

  • Mom left child home alone while at the bar
  • Kristen Broker arrested and charged with child neglect
  • The child was unharmed and placed in father's care

According to the report, Kristen Broker, 27, left her 3-year-old son, Liam Broker, alone for at least 30 minutes while she went out drinking. 

The sheriff's office was called out to 4387 Lamson Avenue on Nov. 8 in reference to attempting to contact the child after receiving a report that the child was possibly at the home alone without supervision. 

After the deputy arrived at the home, Broker was dropped off by an unknown person. According to the report, the deputy asked about the situation and Broker said she was Liam's mother and that he was inside the home sleeping. When they entered the home, the deputy said the child was awake and appeared worried and scared as to where his mother was. 

Liam told the deputy that it was dark outside when his mother told him she would be right back. 

The deputy said no one else was at the home, and the only other person who resides at the residence is Broker's boyfriend who was at work.

Broker admitted she was at a local bar called Delirium and had some "rum and cokes" and a couple of beers while there. She also said she left at 1:30 a.m., arriving home around 2 a.m., according to the deputy. 

Broker continued to repeat that it was only 30 minutes and that the child was sleeping, the report stated. 

The deputy said she appeared extremely intoxicated and Broker said at one point she had been drinking since 1 p.m. on Nov. 7. 

According to the report, the deputy said "she appeared almost as if she did not believe it was an issue to leave her child alone for any amount of time."

Broker was arrested and charged with child neglect. She is being held at the Hernando County jail on a $2000 bond. 

Officials said the child was turned over to his father.