Crash Victim Was Serving Probation For Child Endangerment

A Brant Beach car-crash victim was serving a two-year probation sentence after leaving his 14-month-old daughter alone in his car a year ago - all because he wanted to play blackjack at a Pennsylvania casino, according to Bucks County court records.

Shannon B. Fenton, 28, was pronounced dead Sunday after his Nissan Altima was traveling south on Route 539 in Manchester, and then crossed into the northbound lane and collided with a BMW convertible

The Nissan Altima continued south in the northbound lane and then collided head on with a Volkswagon Jetta, which was traveling north on Route 539 at about 7:47 p.m., police said. 

Nineteen-year-old Sefakor A. Mensah of Monroe, the rear-seat passenger of the Volkswagon Jetta, died from the injuries he suffered in the crash. Three others were hospitalized in the Route 539 accident, police said.

Fenton, appearing in the Bucks County, Pa. Court of Common Pleas on Oct. 15, 2012, pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering another person, according to court records.

According to the Bucks County CourierTimes:

Fenton took a trip to Parx Casino with his 14-month-old daughter on July 11, 2012. After casino employees turned them away at the door, Fenton allegedly returned to his car in the casino parking lot where he strapped his daughter into her car seat, and then headed back inside to the blackjack tables, police said.

Pennsylvania State Police responded to a 4:15 p.m. report of a baby left inside a car at the casino, according to the newspaper. They found the child alone in a Toyota Corolla with New Jersey plates.

The car appeared to be running with the windows up, according to a probable cause affidavit, as reported by the newspaper. The keys were in the ignition and the front driver’s side door was unlocked.

When Bensalem police arrived, the crying baby had been removed from the vehicle by a trooper. He described her skin as “warm to the touch” and “clammy,” according to the affidavit, as reported by the newspaper.

Police estimated that the baby was alone in the car for about 15 to 20 minutes, according to the newspaper.

About 15 minutes after police arrived at the casino parking lot, Fenton returned to his car and told police he went into the casino only to use the bathroom. He later changed his story to say he was gambling, according to the affidavit, as reported by the newspaper.