Man left kids in car while accused of shoplifting from Walmart

A man accused of shoplifting from a Walmart, found himself hit with an additional charge after leaving his children in a parked car.

Joe Harvin, Jr. was arrested for shoplifting from the Leland Walmart over the weekend.

While being arrested, Harvin then told police he left his kids in the car in the parking lot. The children were alright; they’d been in the car for a little over an hour. The officer filed a misdemeanor child abuse charge in addition to shoplifting.

This is the second time in a week that police have charged a parent with leaving children in a car.

Two young children were found in a van Wednesday night in sub-freezing temperatures in the parking lot of the Motel 6 on Market Street. The parent, like Harvin, was charged with misdemanor child abuse.