Charges referred to District Attorney's Office against three adults after children caught driving

WEST BEND/WASHINGTON COUNTY (WITI) -- FOX6 News has learned child neglect charges have been referred to the District Attorney's Office for three adults after a nine-year-old and four-year-old were caught in a car, alone for the second time this summer. The latest incident happened this weekend. Washington County Sheriff's officials say the nine-year-old boy was driving, with the four-year-old as his passenger, in the Town of Farmington.

This weekend's incident comes after an incident on June 14th -- when Good Samaritans helped to stop a vehicle being driven by the nine-year-old boy -- with his four-year-old passenger. The kids told police they were headed to "grandma's house."

Now, FOX6 News is learning child neglect charges have been referred to the Washington County District Attorney's Office against three adults.

The adults for which charges have been referred are two adult women and an adult man.

In the latest incident, occurring on Sunday, July 13th, Washington County Sheriff's officials took a 911 call regarding a car traveling eastbound in the wrong lane of traffic on Neward drive -- near Indian Lore Road in the Town of Farmington. The caller reported the vehicle appeared to be operated by two young children -- and that the child driving the vehicle was not able to keep the vehicle in the correct lane of traffic -- as the caller continued to follow.



At the same time, we're told the children's family members called West Bend police to report the vehicle and the children missing.

A Washington County Sheriff's deputy was able to intercept the vehicle approximately three miles from the initial 911 call location. Sheriff's officials say before the deputy was able to stop the vehicle -- it was driven into the ditch in the area of County Trunk A and Trading Post Trail in the Town of Farmington.

No one was injured -- and the vehicle was not damaged when it went off the road.

Deputies on scene were able to identify the vehicle's driver as the nine-year-old West Bend boy, and the passenger the four-year-old West Bend boy. Deputies determined these are the same two children that were involved in the similar incident on June 14th in the Town of Barton -- according to Sheriff's officials.

Sheriff's officials say it was determined the vehicle belonged to the nine-year-old child's step-father.

West Bend police tell FOX6 News the children told them they were headed for the park.

Clint Dexter was driving through the wooded area in Washington County when he spotted the swerving vehicle. He's the one who made the 911 call to authorities.

"It was just a very strange moment. When I got closer I took a look over and that's when I noticed the young kid was driving the vehicle. It looked like he wasn't tall enough to see over it, so he's looking through the steering wheel as he was driving. I look at my son who jut turned eight over the weekend and think, there's no way he should be driving a car," Dexter said.

Dexter says the boys could have easily hit another driver or a runner -- or hurt themselves. He says the four-year-old was standing on the front seat.

"As a parent myself, I would have had the keys hidden away when they couldn't find them. Make it impossible for it to happen a second time," Dexter said.

We're told the children were taken into custody on Sunday by the Washington County Department of Human Services.

FOX6 News stopped by the home on Tuesday afternoon. A woman there said the boys were not home -- but said she thinks they will be back soon. She says the boys are fine -- but the family is concerned about possible charges. Beyond that, she had nothing more to say.

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