Man Accused of Leaving Children in Car to Gamble in Crystal City

An Arlington man has been arrested and charged with child endangerment after police said he left his two young children in his car to go gambling in Crystal City.

James Bentley, 46, is accused of leaving his 10-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter in his vehicle, parked in a lot in the 500 block of South 23rd Street, for about 30 minutes on Friday afternoon, according to information police released this week.

Bentley left his children alone in order to gamble on a horse racing video game inside a bar, police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck told Patch.

A passerby saw the children and alerted police.

Bentley left the bar when he noticed police outside, at which point he was taken into custody, Sternbeck said.

The average temperature in the greater Washington area on Friday was 36 degrees, though some areas saw a high of about 50 in the late afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.