Moms forced to choose between work and childcare is common, attorney tells judge

YOUNGSTOWN

The woman charged with leaving her two young children strapped in their car seats in front of the television while she worked the overnight shift at a nursing home told a judge Tuesday she regrets leaving them alone that evening.

Judge Maureen Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court sentenced Kacee Moser, 26, of Beaver Township, to two years in prison with credit for 342 days served in jail as she awaited the outcome of her case.

Moser tearfully told the judge she has not seen her two sons, age 3 years and 9 months at the time she was arrested in June 2013, for almost two years.

“It breaks my heart,” Moser said. “I do love them. I did learn my

lesson.”

Her lawyer, Tony Meranto — her third lawyer since she was arrested — told the judge he disagrees prison is necessary.

He said her conduct was unacceptable as a parent but she was not indicted under a charge that said the children suffered physical harm.

Meranto said Moser’s case is an issue that has cropped up across the country, of mothers who are short of money and are left with the hard issues of how to have someone watch their children while they work.

“This is a hot button case,” Meranto said.

Read more about the case in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.