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Video-Gaming Parents Charged With Neglect
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Published: May 6, 2008
TAMPA - Lavon Rowells was so focused on playing video games, police say, that he lost track of time and let his two toddlers wander in a motel for several hours Sunday night.
At 9:12 p.m., a 3-year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy were found wandering in the hall outside Room 207 at Rodeway Inn at 210 Fowler Ave., according to a police report.
Here is the police report version of events:
When the children were spotted outside their room wearing dirty diapers, police were called. There was no parent or guardian in sight, so the room was searched. Police found trash scattered and piles of vomit, choking hazards and chemicals, but nothing for the children to eat or drink.
Police took custody of the children.
Four hours later, Rowells and his wife, Christina, returned to the motel. At first the couple said they had gone to a store.
After being arrested on two counts of child neglect each, the couple changed their story.
According to the report, Christina was working at Fantasy Dolls as a stripper, and Lavon Rowells got bored and went to go see her.
The police report says he told authorities the children were sleeping "so it didn't matter."
The couple left the club and went to a friend's house to play video games.
"When you play video games, you get focused on that," Lavon Rowells told police.
They are being held at Orient Road Jail with no bail set.
Editor Howard Altman can be reached at (813) 259-7629 or haltman@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( RobKay ) on May 6, 2008 at 12:35 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is identical to the story posted yesterday. Only the title changed. What's Up?
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Posted by ( cbrick ) on May 6, 2008 at 1:24 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Its the same concept as you needing an hour and a half 2 watch 60 minutes. If you read it twice, maybe it'll sink in.
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Posted by ( ron401k ) on May 6, 2008 at 1:39 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Lavon? What father would name their son Lavon? I guess we will never know, neither will Lavon. That's the problem.
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Posted by ( RobKay ) on May 6, 2008 at 4:26 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
OK cbrick, you're obviously much more intelligent than I am. Please explain the difference between the two stories to me. And yes I did see that the last sentence of the first story was omitted from the 2nd, however saying you don't know something or just not saying it doesn't seem to change a thing. I don't think you know what you're talking about.
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Posted by ( jett5 ) on May 6, 2008 at 7:18 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
What are these parents 12?
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Posted by ( scbrownsr ) on May 6, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
What game were they playing?
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Posted by ( fngmoe ) on May 6, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
The parents are in their 20's.. actually behaved worse than some 12-year olds I know, though.
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Posted by ( Oops ) on May 6, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
It's called "Yesterday's News Today," and is a great masthead slogan for the Tampa Triv.
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Posted by ( cbrick ) on May 6, 2008 at 10:34 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
You are 100% correct there BobK. You probably notice that I run my mouth posting something on every article. If I dont know what I'm talking about, I dont talk. However, I am free 2 match wits with you at anytime. Hit me up.
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