South Idaho man accused of leaving child in car while at bar pleads guilty - East Idaho News
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South Idaho man accused of leaving child in car while at bar pleads guilty

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CALDWELL — A Parma man accused of leaving his child in his vehicle while he drank at a Caldwell bar pleaded guilty to his charges in 3rd District Court on Tuesday.

As part of a plea deal, Matthew Jaggi, 21, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor injury to a child. He initially faced charges of felony injury to a child.

Jaggi previously pleaded not guilty to the felony charge during a hearing on July 28, and he faced a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. The maximum penalty for the misdemeanor charge is one year in county jail.

Jaggi was arrested May 28 outside the Blue Eye nightclub in Caldwell around midnight when police said they found his child left alone in the back seat of Jaggi’s Chevy pickup.

Caldwell Police Department Patrol Officer Jared George said during a previous hearing that Jaggi confessed to being at the bar about an hour and that he had only had one drink while there.

Prosecutors said during a previous hearing that Jaggi left his child in the car for about two-and-a-half hours while he was in the bar.

Police said the child was “hot, sweaty and covered in urine,” when removed from the vehicle.

George said when he first spoke with Jaggi in May, Jaggi told him he had one Jack Daniels and Coke, but in a later conversation he told George he only had one Coors Light. Jaggi refused to take a Breathalyzer test that night.

Jaggi’s sentencing is Sept. 21 in the 3rd District Court.

This article was originally published in the Idaho Press-Tribune. It is used here with permission.

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