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Video-Gaming Parents Charged With Neglect

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By HOWARD ALTMAN

The Tampa Tribune

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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