Mom Allegedly Beats Nanny Who Tried to Stop DWI
A mom from a tony part of New York allegedly beat up her nanny who was trying to stop the mom from a DWI with a toddler in the car.
Laura Bowery-Falco, a 44-year-old equestrian competitor from the Hamptons on Long Island, allegedly grabbed her nanny around the neck, threw her to the ground and attempted to punch her in the face.
It all happened last week, after the nanny tried to stop Bowery-Falco from driving drunk with her 14-month-old in the car. Bowery-Falco now faces charges of aggravated DWI, harassment, and child endangerment.
Why Child Endangerment?
When a parent places a child in situations that threaten the health and safety of the child, the parent can face a child endangerment charge, which is a type of child abuse.
In this case, authorities say the 20-year-old nanny believed Bowery-Falco was intoxicated and did not want her to take her toddler in a car, reports New York's WNBC-TV.
Court documents say she and Bowery-Falco got into a "physical dispute" during which the nanny was pulled by her hair to the ground and roughed up. Fortunately, the nanny wasn't seriously hurt.
Bowery-Falco then left with the child and drove down the street to her mother's home, according to authorities. Unfortunately for her, rich people have to follow laws, too.
Leandra's Law
In New York, Leandra's Law (otherwise known as the Child Passenger Protection Act) makes it an automatic felony to drive drunk with a person age 15 or younger inside the vehicle
Leandra's Law went into effect several years ago after a young girl died in a car accident. She was a passenger in the car of a drunken driver.
New York isn't the only state to place higher penalties on drunken drivers who have kids in the car. Many other states will also charge drunken drivers with a felony if there are children in the same vehicle.
In Bowery-Falco's defense, her lawyer insists no one actually saw her driving the car while intoxicated, WNBC reports. The lawyer also claims the nanny has had prior issues with his client, but declined to discuss specifics.
If convicted as a first-time DWI offender in New York, Bowery-Falco would likely be required to have an ignition interlock device installed in her car. But since she's an equestrian competitor, maybe she can trade in her car keys for a horse.
Related Resources:
- Hamptons mom beat up nanny, then drove drunk with her toddler in the car: cops (New York Daily News)
- Man Straps Kids to Hood of Car, Drives Drunk (FindLaw's Blotter)
- DUI Suspect Drives 127 mph With 3 Kids in Car (FindLaw's Blotter)
- Drunk Woman Smashes Through Long Island Home (FindLaw's Blotter)