Toddler Found Wandering the Street Holding Beer Bottle

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FL -- A 24-year old Jacksonville Beach woman is facing felony child neglect charges Thursday after police say neighbors found her two year old son wandering in the street wearing a soiled diaper carrying a beer bottle.

Jessica Nicole Hughes was arrested when she returned home after being contacted by police.

She was described as extremely intoxicated at the time of her arrest.

Authorities called Jax Beach Fire & Rescue to check on the little boy, who was bleeding from a piece of broken glass in his foot, and to be sure he hadn't consumed alcohol.

"Fortunately, it did not appear the child had ingested any alcohol," said Jax Beach Sergeant Thomas Bingham.

Police got a call from neighbors around 9 o'clock wednesday night. "Two neighbors call us saying, 'hey! There's this 2-year old child walking around... (with a ) soiled diaper, glass is in the bottom of his foot -walking around with a beer bottle," said Jacksonville Beach Police Public Information Officer Thomas Bingham.

According to police, the boy's mother, Jessica Hughes, said she dropped the child off at their apartment where her fiancee' was napping. She then went out.

The toddler's soon-to-be step-Dad told First Coast News little Caleb did what most two year olds do. He explored. "He has toys. He loves to climb. And you know Kids love to climb!" said Michael Edenfield.

"He climbed up, unlocked the door and the next thing you know he was out here!"

Mike Edenfield was awakened to neighbors and blue flashing lights to learn the toddler was out.

Police reached Mom on the phone and told her to come home.

"And when she came home, she was absolutely obliterated!" said Sgt. Bingham.

"(She was) Extremely intoxicated. Had difficulty standing. The investigation continued and the officers ended up arresting her for child abuse and child neglect."

Paramedics pulled a sliver of glass from the boys foot and determined that he had not consumed any alcohol.

The Department of Children And Families was called and an investigator went to the apartment on the 200 block of 10th Avenue North. The DCF determined the child was safe in the care of Edenfield while the boy's mother was taken to jail.

Caleb's soon-to-be stepfather is grateful the boy is unharmed, but says the arrest of his mother creates an instant hardship.

"It means now I can't work until I find a babysitter! And I don't have a babysitter so now that puts me behind on my rent. All my bills are going to get behind because of this little incident."

If convicted on the third degree felony charges, Hughes could be jailed for up to five years. Hughes is being held at the Duval County Jail on $5,000 bond.