Woman pleads guilty to cruelty to her children

Left young kids home alone for night

A St. Rose woman has pled guilty to three counts of cruelty to juveniles after she left her four young children at home alone while she stayed with her boyfriend.

Melissa A. O’Neal, 37, was sentenced to three years with the Department of Corrections, but the sentence was suspended. She was also given three years of probation and must serve 100 hours of community service.

O’Neal spent 29 days in jail and was given credit for time served.

On May 20, O’Neal left four young children, ages 13, 12, 6 and 3 at home alone overnight. Authorities said her youngest, a 3-year-old daughter, was found wandering alone near River Road and the Fairfield Subdivision on May 21.
After the ordeal, her children were placed into the care of the Office of Child Services.