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 in Virginia that ended with police, Child Protective Services and a criminal conviction.

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

When 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 charged with and convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She received a six-month suspended jail sentence.

CPS also placed Parkinson on Virginia’s Child Abuse and Neglect Registry for seven years, consequences she fears could affect her ability to volunteer at her children’s schools and even become a licensed attorney.

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

Click on the video player above to watch. Make sure to let us know in the comments where you’re watching from and ask any questions you have.