Las Cruces mother indicted for allegedly leaving children in hot car

Dona Ana District Attorney Mark D’Antonio announced Friday that a grand jury had indicted a Las Cruces woman accused of leaving her kids in a car during the summer.

Authorities said Gretta Jimenez, 35, left her 8-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter in a locked car outside a grocery store in Las Cruces for 30 minutes. The incident happened last September when the temperature was 91 degrees outside.

D’Antonio said “Protecting the children of Doa Ana County needs to be everyone’s top priority. We are very fortunate the officer arrived when he did.”

The defendant was indicted on two counts of child abuse, both third-degree felonies. If convicted as charged, she faces a possible maximum sentence of six years in prison.