Home Alone... Just wondering

[rmet4nzkx]

Things are not always what they seem

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? CA

In the news today, a father and step mother were arrested for child endangerment after leaving their 9 or 10 year old (I've seen both ages given) in charge of their 5 year old, while they went off on a Las Vegas vacation.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/13554640.htm

I was just wondering, at what age can kids be left in charge?

There is no age per se. There appears to be several conflicting stories one being that the grandma who reported this was actually supposed to be watching the children, so there may be a custody struggle over the children of the deceased mother and the children's entitlements. One grandma to watch the puppies the other to watch the children. The court has put a gag order on grandma seeking custody. Apparently there were adequate provisions made for the children. At the same age I took care of 2 younger siblings when my mother was in the hospital for a prolonged period. I knew how to cook etc at age 10. Although I never left my children alone, they knew how to cook and care for other children by age 10 and in fact had them stay with relatives even as teenagers, that is when "Home Alone" is really scary!

 

[rmet4nzkx]

Sentence handed down, 3 years probation, some electronic monitoring, step mom's felony charge reduced to mis/aiding and abetting. No article available yet.
Additional facts
Nanny quit 10-14-5 because she couldn't control the Autistic child so children had been left home alone some times since then.
One time while in care of 10 yo brother (In Oct.) the autistic child was injured at a local park and taken by ambulance to the hospital, was there a report to police or CPS?
According to stepmother, grandmother was supposed to watch the children and would have taken them to LV with them otherwise. SM doesn't speak ENglish as a first language.