A Florida man is behind bars after a 12-year-old child ended up in the hospital from consuming marijuana out of a vape pen left within arm’s reach.
Monroe County authorities arrested 35-year-old Luis Enrique Pesante of Key Largo on July 5, 2026, charging him with child neglect following the morning emergency.
According to investigators, the situation unfolded around 10:30 a.m. when the 12-year-old was left unsupervised to watch a much younger child. During that time, the preteen got ahold of a THC vape pen and ingested its contents. The marijuana active ingredients hit the 12-year-old so hard that the child became entirely incapacitated and could no longer look after the younger sibling.
Realizing something was terribly wrong, the older child managed to call a relative, who immediately dialed 911. Paramedics rushed to the scene and transported the 12-year-old to Mariners Hospital in Tavernier, Florida. Officials confirmed the injuries were not life-threatening.
An investigation into the incident revealed that Pesante had left the narcotics out in the open where both of the children could easily get to them.
Following the medical emergency, sheriff’s deputies took Pesante into custody and booked him into the local jail. The Florida Department of Children and Families was formally notified of the situation, and custody of both children has since been transferred to another family member.
READ: Florida Independence Day Bust: K9 Aries Sniffs Out 300 Grams Of Meth In Locked Toolbox
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