2-year-old Found Abandoned in Slidell

Nathaniel Burnette (42), the father of a 2-year-old child who was found abandoned and wandering in

traffic near a local Slidell motel, is in jail and is facing serious charges.

Slidell Police responded around 8:00 p.m. Tuesday night (November 27, 2018) to Days Inn after receiving reports of a 2-year-old child wandering in the roadway with no pants or shoes. A good citizen took the child into the lobby of Days Inn, and the search began for the parent.

Slidell Police officers located Burnette after about 45 minutes, passed out in one of the motel rooms. Burnette, of Pearl River, was found in possession of crack cocaine and reportedly admitted that he had been selling both cocaine and marijuana out of his motel room.

Burnette was charged with Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Child Desertion, Transactions Involving Proceeds from Controlled Dangerous Substance Transactions, Cruelty to Juveniles, Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of Marijuana.

The child, who was unharmed, was turned over to responsible family member. The case will be turned over to the Department of Children and Family Services.