Father accused of leaving 4 kids alone in hot car while in adult store

PHOENIX (KTVK/KPHO/Gray News) - A father is in custody after he allegedly left his four children in a hot car while he shopped at an adult store in Arizona.

Ascencio Largo, 38, is accused of leaving four kids under the age of 10 alone and in danger Thursday afternoon to go inside The Adult Shoppe, an adult entertainment store in Phoenix. Police say he was drunk at the time. He is facing eight felony child abuse and endangerment charges.

Officers credit a good Samaritan with calling 911 after spotting the kids inside a hot car for almost an hour. Police say the car was off with the windows rolled up, and it was 125 degrees inside.

Thursday’s high temperature for Phoenix was 106 degrees, which is normal for this time of year.

When first responders arrived on scene, all four children were sweating and hot to the touch with red skin. Police say each child’s temperature was near 100 degrees. They were taken to a nearby hospital and are expected to fully recover.

However, during Largo’s first court appearance, prosecutors said the children were “in imminent danger of death,” had police not rescued them.

At the hearing, the judge did not hold back while discussing the severity of the allegations against Largo.

“You could have exited that store to a car full of your dead children, which is rather shocking,” she said.

The judge added that police say they went into the store and called out many times, but no one came out at first.

“[Police] allege that when you came out, you attempted to pretend like it wasn’t your car,” she said to Largo. “It indicates a strong level of reckless culpability.”

Largo’s bail was set at $5,000. He is ordered to stay away from his children, who are currently under the care of their mother, if he posts bail.

Prosecutors say Largo has a previous criminal history that includes a prior extreme DUI.