I live in CA and on ski trip I got citation for "failure to supervise child".

Fact: kids had a fun day with lessons at the slopes (I do not ski) and 4 year old was tired out and fell asleep in the car but 7 year old was awake playing Nintendo. Decided to run into local supermarket for some peanut butter and jelly leaving kids in car (they did not like the bagels and cream cheese). I locked the car (car can be opened from inside and 7 year old knows how to do so) for safety, tilted sunroof and temperature was 50F.

I was under wrong impression that one should not leave kids in car only when it was hot (saw too many CSI episodes on that) but here weather was cool and kids were properly dressed.

Took about 10 minutes and drove off. Someone has alerted the police but I drove off before police arrived. That person followed me to a $1 dollar store (10 minutes drive) where again I stopped to run in and pick up some silly putty for the girls. I was in the $1 store for under 2 minutes, got a call from PA system by the police (police has approached my 7 year old who told them my name).

Was given citation with mandatory court appearance in Reno. What should I do? I did leave my kids unsupervised so I am guilty. This is my first offence and I do not have any traffic violation or any violations of any kind over the last 15 years (clean record). Is there anyway for me to go to a traffic school type solution so that this does not stay on my records? If guilty this is a misdemenour!!!

In short is this a case where I should hire attorney to try and get a lesser sentence (money is a problem) or should I just walk in, tell my story, and hope for the best.

How is the Reno municipal courts over such issues. Any idea what is the typical approach?

What a start to a new year!