Two men are facing child endangerment charges after, Ulster County sheriff’s deputies said, a toddler in their care ended up in the middle of Lucas Avenue and almost got hit by traffic.
According to deputies, on Saturday, Jan. 16 at about 4:50 p.m., they responded to several 911 calls reporting a small child in the middle of Lucas Avenue near Spring Lake Road in Town of Ulster. Deputies found that the child was left unsupervised in a Spring Lake Road home, had gotten out of the house and tried to cross the street, almost getting struck by a vehicle in the process. A concerned citizen, deputies said, corralled the child and brought her into a local business.
Deputies said John F. Yonnetti III, 25, of Kingston, the child’s father, and Andrew Calia, 30, of Pine Bush had left the toddler and at least one other child alone while they went across the street to a convenience store. They’re both charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. They were released with appearance tickets for Ulster Town Court. The children, deputies said, were left in the care of a family member.