AUGUSTA, Ga. – New details have emerged regarding the case of a father arrested for leaving his three children unattended at a McDonald’s restaurant in Augusta last month.

Chris Louis, 24, was taken into custody on March 22 after the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about three children, ages 10, 6, and 1, who were left alone for more than an hour at the McDonald’s located at 2902 Washington Road. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m., with witnesses reporting that the children were left unsupervised for an extended period.

According to the initial police report, Louis told deputies that he had been at McDonald’s earlier that day to fill out a job application at the nearby West Bank Inn. He claimed he was waiting for a callback for a potential interview. However, the sheriff’s office’s investigation revealed discrepancies in Louis’s account.

The 10-year-old child provided a statement to authorities, explaining that she, her father, and her two younger siblings had walked to McDonald’s from The Hendrix Apartments. She said that Louis left the children to deliver a backpack back to the apartments, promising to return shortly. The children were left alone for an extended period before their mother arrived at 6:12 p.m., after the 10-year-old had reached out to her. Louis returned to the restaurant just minutes later, at 6:18 p.m.

To verify Louis’s claim regarding his job application, a sheriff’s deputy visited the West Bank Inn. The manager of the establishment confirmed that Louis had arrived at 1:12 p.m. that day, completed a job application, and left the property at 1:37 p.m. The manager also stated that there was no formal interview scheduled or expected with Louis.

Surveillance footage from the West Bank Inn supported this timeline, showing Louis was not at the establishment during the time the children were left alone at McDonald’s. Instead, by his own admission, Louis had been walking between McDonald’s and The Hendrix Apartments during that time.

In light of this information, the sheriff’s office determined that Louis’s actions constituted a misdemeanor charge of Deprivation of a Minor. This charge was filed to ensure the welfare of the children and to allow the court to review the situation. The sheriff’s office emphasized that the charge would give all parties involved an opportunity to appear before a judge to assess whether the children were receiving proper care.

A full incident report is still pending as the investigation continues.