CPSO Arrests Man for 3 Counts of Child Desertion

On December 10 around 2:00 p.m. the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a home in Westlake in reference to three young children being left alone.  Deputies learned a 6 year old, a 7 year old and a 9 year old woke up that morning after spending the night at their grandfather’s home to find him not at home.

From the CPSO:

The children stayed alone until 2:00 p.m. when the 9 year old went to a neighbor’s house and told them they were alone in the house.

After some investigation, deputies discovered the boys’ grandfather, Joel B. Carver, 54, 2208 Gulfway Blvd., Westlake, was incarcerated at the Calcasieu Correctional Center in the early morning hours of December 10 for a DWI and possession of CDS II.  Detectives spoke with Carver in jail that afternoon and he told them he put his 3 grandchildren to bed then left to go buy some cigarettes.  While out, he crashed his car and was arrested for the DWI and possession of CDS II. At the time of his arrest and at no time while he was in jail did he tell deputies that his 3 grandchildren were home alone until detectives questioned him that afternoon.

Carver was re-arrested and charged with 3 counts of child desertion.

The three children were placed in state custody.

Judge David Ritchie set his bond at $120,000.

CPSO Detective John Casarez is the lead investigator on this case.