Beer in sippy cup: Phoenix mom Valerie Marie Topete jailed on child abuse

Mugshot of Valerie Marie Topete taken on July 4th, 2012 / Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

(AP) PHOENIX - A Phoenix mother has been arrested after authorities say she put beer in her 2-year-old son's sippy cup.

Phoenix police were called to a pizza restaurant Tuesday night after witnesses say they saw 36-year-old Valerie Marie Topete pour beer from a pitcher into her son's cup and then the child drank some of it.

Phoenix police say Topete admitted pouring the beer in the cup because the child kept reaching for the beer pitcher.

Officers examined the contents of the cup and determined the liquid was consistent with beer. The child was taken to a hospital for precautionary reasons and was later released to the care of his father.

Topete is being held on suspicion of child abuse. Police didn't know if she has a lawyer.

[foo8259]

French kids in Canada may indeed have red cheeks from all the wine they drink, but I believe it's far healthier for them than the sugar or corn syrup laden "fruit juices" American kids swill daily.

[hypnotoad72]

Interesting tangent - granted, I don't think liquor or booze for kids is good, but having read enough of those pesky commie nutrition labels on those fruit juice boxes and bottles, the corn syrup and other garbage thrown in is hardly any better than anything fermented...

[baby-boomer-54]

...wow...after reading some of these comments, I think I'm in shock. If you teach your children from a young age RESPONSIBILITY, giving a sip of beer is NOT abusive. I do have to say however, this mother doing it in public, she asked for what she got...because people now a days, make other peoples actions their business. I'm so glad my kids are raised....had I raised them today, I too probably would be in jail....I taught them responsibility, love, forgiveness and giving...all in one (or several) swat on the behind WHEN they needed it....today? I'm sure someone would have called the cops on me...my kids are grown, married and having children of their own...they love me, respect me and have told me time and again they were glad I was not afraid of them....parents today are afraid (or plain and simply lazy) of their own children and just give them whatever they want...thus entitlement, alcoholism, drug addiction, sex beyond control, parental abuse, and the list goes on and on.
Sadly, time is not on my grandchildren's side....as a Christian, I do believe we are all on our way out...wow...

[hypnotoad72]

In the past, other people's actions WERE everyone's business.

After all, when some kid acted up in school, they got punished by the system. You don't get that nowadays, with the bratty bully being allowed to roam freely with everybody mewling "boys will be boys" and accepting our continual descent into depravity and anarchy.

And we do need more leaders that do forgiveness and the rest. And for our citizens; not multinational entities that have zero loyalty here despite taking every handout and bailout...

And I say all this as a Christian as well...

[IPonUall]

It's news like this that is intended for us to miss other more important news like this article you wont find on CBS....

Newser) - Hours after Bill Johnson became CEO of Duke Energy, its board sought his resignation—which it received at 12:01am the day after he took the job. Such a quick change is practically unknown in US history, the Wall Street Journal notes—and nearly as shocking is the $44.4 million Johnson's set to walk away with. The energy firm announced Johnson's selection as CEO a year and a half ago; he had held the same position at Progress Energy, which merged with Duke at that time. Now, however, former Duke CEO Jim Rogers will take the job.

As the former boss of the bigger company, and as a manager focused on consensus, Rogers was seen as a better fit to combine the companies, insiders say. The decision was made at the new board's first meeting this week. It was the product of "mutual agreement," says a Duke rep. Johnson hasn't been left hanging financially: His $44.4 million in exit payments includes a $7.4 million severance, a $1.4 million bonus, a hefty stock deal, and a $1.5 million lump-sum payout—provided he doesn't speak ill of his old employer.

Don't you just wish you can get a deal like that?

[hypnotoad72]

Link?

That aside, for all the prattle corporate and political leaders shovel about competition, they almost love it when companies consolidate... still, trying to find a coherent message from them as the bulk of them are all bought and paid for...

[obicera1]

Ironically, smoking around kids day in day out isn't child abuse.

[obicera1]

Ironically, smoking around kids day in day out isn't child abuse.

[erasmus111]

It is considered to be child abuse, now.

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
this conduct is unacceptable, obviously, but this mom has problems may be, Valerie needs help,
"au revoir"

[IPonUall]

The problem she has is 2 years old now...lol

[IAMCS]

We have laws and that law was broken. If she had done this at home it may not have been an issue. Some parents give children a sip of wine at dinner. But, she did this in public, so she wil pay the price fro breaking the law of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Personally, I don't see how a sip of beer could really do much harm. But, then again, would a good parent really want to give a child a taste of something that could prove addictive and harmful later in his life? On second thought...throw the book at her. This is NOT good parenting!

[erasmus111]

"But, then again, would a good parent really want to give a child a taste of something that could prove addictive and harmful later in his life? On second thought...throw the book at her. This is NOT good parenting!"


I'm glad to see you came to your senses. I was just about ready to REAM your ass out.

I cannot believe the comments on here, of people that actually believe giving their children any amount of alcohol, is acceptable!

It's no wonder there are so many alcoholics. And I believe that any person who thinks it is acceptable to give their child alcohol IS an alcoholic.

[erasmus111]

"Some parents give children a sip of wine at dinner."

Which is crazy because they then acquire a taste for it. When they get into their teens, they will abuse it. And then it will be downhill from there.

[deuelpete]

I can not understand alot of these comments I thought our nation was 80% Christian but I guess not. I knew a german Mother here in America drink one beer everyday and she would give her child some of it everyday and when he was grown he became an alcoholic. On his death bed he said I wish I had took better care of myself and before he died he gave his heart to Christ. He was my brother-in-law and I sure do miss him
Shirl C

[erasmus111]

Christian or no Christian, anyone with a freakin' brain should know better than to give a child beer or any other alcoholic beverage.

[hypnotoad72]

The definition "nominal" comes to mind. There are a lot of Biblical passages people don't hear by pastors and ministers... probably because somebody would bleat in return about some being lazy and how we're all supposed to be gracious of people who are rich (REGARDLESS of how they got it, and regardless of the amount of, or lack thereof, of any ethics utilized in the process... )

If we had a society based on ethics and consideration of others rather than greed, we might all be better off today...

[ralphing]

If the family was eating at Applebee's, the kid could have gotten a sippy full Margarita made from Top Shelf.

[swh56]

If sippy cups were around when I was 2, I'd love to have had a cold beer once in a while.