Phoenix, AZ – An Arizona man has been sentenced to four months in jail and ten years of probation after leaving his four children inside a sweltering vehicle that reached 124 degrees Fahrenheit while he spent nearly an hour inside an adult store. Authorities say the children, all under the age of 10, were rescued just in time to avoid a tragedy.
The Incident: Children Found in Car as Temperatures Soared
The shocking event occurred in July 2024 when Ascencio Largo, 38, parked his car outside The Adult Shoppe on South 24th Street in Phoenix and left his children inside with the windows rolled up and the engine off.
According to a Phoenix Police Department press release, officers responded to a 911 call reporting that four children were trapped inside a locked car in extreme heat.
“The car was turned off and the windows were rolled up,” police said. “Officers recognized the danger this posed to the children and immediately gained access to the vehicle.”
When officers arrived, they found the children sweating heavily, hot to the touch, and visibly distressed. Each was given water and placed inside a patrol vehicle with air conditioning to cool down. Police later determined the interior of the car reached 124°F, with the children’s internal body temperatures ranging between 99.7°F and 100.4°F.
Investigation and Evidence Collected
Bodycam footage released by police shows officers asking the frightened children where their parents were.
“Where’s mom or dad?” one officer is heard asking as he assists the children from the vehicle. Another adds, “Do you know where your guys’ family is?”
Moments later, police discovered that Largo was inside a nearby adult store, reportedly ignoring repeated public announcements from store employees about the children in distress outside.
When confronted by police, Largo initially denied owning the car, walking away before later admitting, “Oh s—,” upon realizing his vehicle was surrounded by emergency responders. Officers said Largo appeared to be intoxicated at the time of the arrest.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Largo was arrested and charged with eight felony counts, including child abuse and endangerment. During his first court appearance, prosecutors emphasized the severity of his negligence, describing the children’s condition as “imminent danger of death.”
“The children were in imminent danger of death in this situation,” one prosecutor said. “Leaving them in a sealed car for nearly an hour in triple-digit heat could easily have been fatal.”
At sentencing, the presiding judge sharply criticized Largo’s behavior.
“You could have exited that store to a car full of your dead children, which is rather shocking,” the judge said. “It indicates a strong level of reckless culpability.”
The judge noted that Largo’s actions could have easily made international headlines as a fatal case of parental recklessness. Largo ultimately pleaded guilty and received a reduced sentence of four months in jail followed by 10 years of probation.
Reactions from Police and Prosecutors
Law enforcement officials underscored that the children’s survival was due to quick intervention from bystanders and police officers.
“Had it been just minutes longer, this could have been a devastating outcome,” a Phoenix police spokesperson said. “The children were sweating profusely, disoriented, and suffering from heat exhaustion when we arrived.”
Prosecutors emphasized that Arizona’s summer temperatures can rise above 110°F, turning parked vehicles into death traps within minutes. They urged parents to remember that leaving children unattended in vehicles is both dangerous and illegal, regardless of how brief the errand might seem.
Background and Public Safety Awareness
According to KidsAndCars.org, more than 35 children die annually in the U.S. from being left in hot vehicles. Interior car temperatures can climb 20 degrees within 10 minutes, even when outside temperatures are moderate.
Phoenix, in particular, has experienced a record number of hot car incidents, prompting local authorities to renew public awareness campaigns such as “Look Before You Lock.”
The Arizona Department of Child Safety is continuing to monitor Largo’s children, who are reportedly in safe custody and receiving support services.
Conclusion
While the children survived the harrowing ordeal, authorities say the incident serves as a grim reminder of how quickly negligence can lead to tragedy. Largo’s case underscores the importance of vigilance, responsibility, and awareness during Arizona’s scorching summer months.
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