Man leaves granddaughter with stranger for $20 to go drinking for 4 hours, claims child was 'trafficked'

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA: A grandfather found himself in police custody this week after he entrusted his granddaughter to a complete stranger before vanishing into a bar for four hours.

Jason Warren, aged 54, was apprehended for felony child endangerment and other offenses following the events on Monday, May 6.

Drunk Jason Warren sought help to find granddaughter

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office responded to a call from a passerby who dialed 911 to report an incident in the parking lot of a bar located on the 5300 block of Auburn Boulevard.

The caller informed authorities that a man, later identified as 54-year-old Jason Warren, was soliciting help, claiming that his 7-year-old granddaughter had been "trafficked"

Upon arrival, deputies encountered Warren, who appeared heavily intoxicated. He explained to deputies that he had given an unidentified homeless woman $20 to escort his granddaughter to a nearby thrift store while he entered the bar approximately four hours earlier.

Deputies promptly obtained surveillance footage confirming the woman's departure with the child.

Deputies found 7-year-old safe

Furthermore, the operation enlisted resources such as STAR (Sheriff’s helicopter), Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS/drones), and Sheriff’s K9 units to aid in the search effort.

Roughly thirty minutes into the search, the woman returned to the parking lot with the child after hearing the PA announcements from STAR.

She confirmed receiving money from Warren to escort the child to the thrift store and revealed to deputies that Warren was severely intoxicated, prompting her concerns about his ability to care for the child.

She then took the child to her "camp" to provide food. Upon speaking with the child, deputies verified the account of events.

The child showed no signs of distress and was assessed by Fire Department personnel at the scene as a precaution.

Subsequent investigation revealed that the child's aunt had legal custody but had entrusted Warren with caring for the child due to her work commitments.

After consultation with Child Protective Services, it was determined that the child could safely return home with her aunt.

Detectives from the Sheriff’s Child Abuse Bureau were consulted, leading to Warren's arrest on charges of felony child endangerment and other offenses.

He was transported to the Sacramento County Main Jail, where he is currently detained on $75,000 bail. Warren is scheduled to appear in court on May 8, 2024.

Jason Warren says homeless woman 'looked like a decent person'

After his inaugural court appearance on Wednesday, May 8, Warren participated in an interview with a reporter from inside the jail.

He asserted to the reporter that he entrusted the woman with the girl due to his perception of her trustworthiness. The woman was later identified as Lauren Jope.

Warren expressed, "I knew, I could tell by her character, she looked like a decent person. I trusted her like I would trust my sister or my cousin."

When queried by the reporter about whether he had considered the potential risks during the four-hour interval he left the child with a stranger, Warren responded, "I thought about it the whole time. But I trust God. God is not going to lead me into a place where he can’t do much."

He elaborated further, stating, "Four hours I was there?" as per Law&Crime.

Warren recounted experiencing vehicular issues upon arriving at the bar and claimed that his phone had died. Recognizing the inappropriateness of bringing the child into the establishment, he opted to leave her with Jope.

A staff member at the thrift store, where Jope took the child, remarked that the girl appeared content and joyful during their visit.

Jope mentioned treating the girl to ice cream and allowing her to interact with her dog at her campsite.

Sergeant Amar Gandhi of the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office commended Jope as "a guardian angel." Reflecting from behind glass at the Sacramento Main Jail, Warren posed the question, "Is it my fault for leaving my granddaughter with a guardian angel?"

When pressed on whether he would repeat his actions, he affirmed, "Yes, I would. Everything I did I told God and I said, you know what, it’s your will, God, not mine."

Alongside the felony charge of child endangerment, Warren faces a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct or public intoxication.