CPS Welfare Check Finds Child Left Alone For 13 Hours, Child Was Present During Sexual And Drug Acts
KOSCIUSKO — A Pierceton man was arrested after leaving a child unattended for more than 13 hours.
Darren Jay Heinzman, 36, 4409 E. CR 100 S., Pierceton, also showing an address of 9523 E. Pixie Parkway, Cromwell, is being charged with three counts of neglect of a dependent. One count is a level 5 felony, and two are level 6 felonies.
On March 19, officers responded to a complaint of an unknown vehicle sitting at a residence. When police arrived at the scene, they discovered Heinzman in the vehicle, high on illegal drugs.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, methamphetamine and heroin were discovered in the vehicle. While arresting Heinzman for dealing and possessing illegal drugs, officers noticed a car seat in the vehicle.
When officers asked Heinzman about the child, he said, “Am I going to be charged with that also?” Police spoke with Heinzman’s father, who said that the child was alone at a residence Heinzman shared with a female.
Officers entered Heinzman’s Syracuse residence and found a minor in a crib with an empty bottle, soiled diaper, dirty face and nose running due to crying for an extended period of time.
Child protective services took the child into their protective custody. Officers believe Heinzman left the child unattended in the residence for more than 13 hours.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, officers searched Heinzman’s cellular phone and found a video dated Sept. 23, 2017, where Heinzman and the female are having sex in the living room while the child is on the floor wearing only a diaper.
In another video found on the phone, Heinzman and the female are naked on a bed, with the female injecting drugs into Heinzman. They then have sexual intercourse, while the child can be seen walking around during the act.
Heinzman was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on March 29, with a $10,250 surety and cash bond. Heinzman also faces charges of dealing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, dealing a narcotic drug, possession of a narcotic drug and possession of a syringe based on evidence found during the original welfare check.