(La Porte, IN) - A woman is charged with child neglect for driving recklessly through downtown La Porte with a loaded gun within reach of a young unrestrained child in the front passenger seat.

 

Those are the allegations filed in La Porte Circuit Court against Sabrina Piunti, 32, of Valparaiso. Currently, the former La Porte area woman is being held on $15,000 bond.

 

According to court documents, La Porte Police on Saturday received a report of a reckless driver being followed by the person making the complaint who gave updated locations of the vehicle eastbound on Lincolnway.

 

A responding officer located the vehicle and witnessed it run a red light at Tyler St then stopped the driver.

 

Police said a .22 caliber loaded firearm was located at the feet of a three year old girl unrestrained in the front passenger seat. The gun was also within reaching distance of the child.

 

According to court documents, the gun was confiscated after police learned Piunti has prior felony convictions, which made it against the law for her to have a firearm under state law.

 

Piunti is charged with Level 6 felony neglect of a dependent and Level 5 felony unlawful carrying of a handgun. Her prior criminal history includes past lower level felony convictions for operating while intoxicated and battery, according to court records.