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Mom arrested for leaving kids home alone while she volunteered at school’s Bingo Night

Posted at 8:09 AM, May 27, 2015
and last updated 2015-05-27 08:11:25-04

NORFOLK, Va. -- A mother was arrested and charged with Felony Child Neglect after she allegedly left her six children home alone while she volunteered at a school's bingo night. Amy Vela's children range in age from five-months old to 10-years old, Norfolk Police said.

Amy Vela (PHOTO: Norfolk Police)

Amy Vela (PHOTO: Norfolk Police)

Police responded to the Vela's home last week when someone called to report young children left home alone. Vela, 35, told police she left her children home alone, but said she asked a neighbor to check on them, according to court documents.

Police found Vela 90 minutes later at Interstate Bingo. That is where Christ the King School hosts bingo fundraising nights twice a week. Christ the King parents are asked to volunteer 20 hours of their time. The school principal told WTKR Vela was not scheduled to volunteer that night, but came to help out anyway.

"It would be awesome if I could just tell amazing things to the news and put it out there like that, but the lawyer specifically said not to do that," Vela's husband Robert to WTKR. Vela said their family has received a lot of support from their community after his wife's arrest.

Vela's children were taken from the home after last week's incident, police said. Child Protective Services was unable to comment about the case.