Mom speaks out after being convicted for letting five-year-old walk alone in gated community

A mother of five. A 5-year-old boy. A half-mile walk through a gated community that ended with police, Child Protective Services and a criminal conviction.

Tonight on Courtroom Insider, an in-depth interview with Karyann Parkinson. She allowed her son, Sam, to walk by himself back to a nearby pond to collect goose feathers, a route she says he knew well and had safely traveled before.

A passerby spotted the boy, security became involved, and soon three police cars and two CPS workers were at the family’s home.

Parkinson was ultimately convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and received a six-month suspended jail sentence.

CPS also placed her on Virginia’s child abuse and neglect registry for seven years, consequences Parkinson fears could affect her ability to volunteer at her children’s schools and even become a licensed attorney.

Nate Eaton shares her story and has updates on several cases we are following.

Watch in the video player above.