Trial Date Set for Salisbury Couple Who Kicked Children Out for Losing Remote

A 2013 study by discount site netvouchercodes.co.uk found that the average television watcher spends over two weeks looking for lost remotes in their lifetime. Many respondents blamed children and their “grubby little hands” for losing remotes, but a couple in Salisbury, MD. were allegedly so angry that two children lost their TV remote that they kicked them out of the house.

Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to a Midway Minimart outside Salisbury to check on a 12-year-old girl and 9-year-old boy, who claimed they’d been sitting outside the store for two hours. It was approximately 11:14 p.m.

Both Leslie Ann Pruitt Parks, 44, and Leonard Joseph Parks, 62, are facing charges in the case. According to the charging documents, Leslie Parks was watching the children for their mother when her husband came home from work and demanded that the two children find the TV remote within 15 minutes. If they couldn’t find it, they’d be kicked out of the house.

According to the documents, the children didn’t find the remote, and Leonard Parks pushed them out of the house. The children told the responding deputies that they hadn’t eaten since lunch. They were fed and Social Services was contacted on their behalf. The children’s mother didn’t have a cell phone and was out looking for a place for the children to stay overnight, since all three are homeless.

Leonard Parks is facing the more severe charges: two counts each of contributing to the condition of a child and neglect of minor. His wife, Leslie Parks, is facing two counts of conspiring to neglect of minor and two counts of conspiring to contribute to the condition of a child.

Both Leslie and Leonard Parks are set to appear for trial at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 29, according to online court records. Until then, both Leslie and Leonard Parks are out of the Wicomico County Detention Center on $30,000 bond after successful bail review hearings on Monday.