Staff Report / May 21, 2026
A Penn Yan woman is facing criminal charges after police say a 3-year-old child wandered away from a residence and was later found alone inside a local business while searching for their parents.
According to the Penn Yan Police Department, officers responded after receiving a report of an unattended child inside a local store. Investigators determined the child had left a nearby residence without supervision and entered the business alone. Store employees and concerned adults remained with the child until authorities arrived.
Police said their investigation found that the child had been left without proper supervision, leading to the incident. As a result, a Penn Yan woman was charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Authorities reported that the child was not injured and was safely reunited with family members following the investigation.
The woman was issued an appearance ticket and is scheduled to answer the charge in Penn Yan Village Court at a later date. Police have not released additional information about the child or the circumstances that allowed the child to leave the residence.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of close supervision of young children, particularly in residential areas located near businesses and roadways. The charge is an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
