Shanesha Taylor Pleads Guilty To Felony Child-Abuse Charge

By Al Macias, Carrie Jung
Published: Monday, March 16, 2015 - 8:31am
Updated: Monday, March 16, 2015 - 1:06pm
(Photo courtesy of Scottsdale Police Department)
Shanesha Taylor

Shanesha Taylor pleaded guilty to a felony child abuse charge on Monday. The Phoenix mother was arrested nearly a year ago after someone reported hearing a child crying inside a car at a Scottsdale office complex parking lot.

Taylor told authorities she left her two sons in her vehicle while she was at a job interview because she couldn't find day care.

Taylor entered a change of plea Monday as part of an agreement requiring her to serve a minimum of 10 years supervised probation and complete a series of domestic violence classes.

She attracted sympathy after her mug shot and story went viral.  She received more than $114,000 in donations.

Taylor was initially offered a deferred prosecution agreement if she funded a trust for her children with money from supporter donations. After missing two deadlines to do so, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office reinstated prosecution against her.

Taylor will be sentenced May 15.