Beer in 2-year-old's sippy cup gets Phoenix mom arrested

By: Barry Leibowitz
Topics: Daily Blotter

Phoenix mother Valerie Topete is charged with child abuse for allegedly putting beer in her 2-year-old's sippy cup.

/ KPHO

(CBS/KPHO) PHOENIX, Ariz. - Whether you think the legal drinking age should be 21, or 18...or even if you're partial to prohibition...we're quite sure you'll find a drinking age of 2 to be a mistake.

Authorities in Phoenix agree, and so a woman who allegedly put beer in her 2-year-old son's sippy cup was arrested and charged with child abuse, according to CBS affiliate KPHO.

A witness called police and told them she saw Valerie Topete pour beer from a pitcher into the infant's cup and place it in front of the child on Tuesday. The witness told police the boy later fell from his seat, leading her to believe the child was intoxicated.

Officers said the cup had about 4 ounces of liquid with foam on the surface and a distinct odor of alcohol.

Topete told police her son had been grasping for the pitcher and that she had put a "splash of beer" into her son's cup that contained apple juice, according to police. She told them it was "reverse psychology" to stop him from grabbing at the pitcher.

Oh, now we get it.

Not.

The apparently misguided mother is facing one count of child abuse.

The boy was taken to Chandler Hospital as a precaution.

2 Comments +

Add a Comment

by Teddie Seeley July 6, 2012 10:13 AM EDT

What an idiot. I read in another article she gave it to him because he was reaching for the pitcher. Now I'm wondering, if he reaches for her bong, while she is smoking, is she going to give him that too?

Reply to this comment