Texas Teacher Accused Of Locking Child Out Of Home Overnight

A Houston ISD teacher has been arrested on child endangerment charges after allegedly locking her 12-year-old daughter out of their apartment overnight.

Georgette Albert, 45, is accused of not allowing the child back inside over an argument, forcing the child to sleep on a bench in the apartment complex. The child attempted to get back into the apartment several times.

The next morning, Albert's daughter walked to a police substation a half mile away to report the incident and to seek help. Police then spoke with Albert, who claimed her daughter had run away.

Clearly, the police did not believe her and arrested the woman for alleged child endangerment. The child was then handed over to Child Protective Services, who then released her to a family member.

Albert was booked into Harris County jail but is now out on a $5,000 bond.

Child endangerment in Texas in defined as:

[A] person commits an offense if, having custody, care, or control of a child younger than 15 years, he intentionally abandons the child in any place under circumstances that expose the child to an unreasonable risk of harm.

I'd say locking a 12-year-old girl outside overnight in an apartment complex qualifies, but that will be for the courts to decide.

Child endangerment penalties depend on the severity of the case. If Albert is convicted of child endangerment, she could face:

• No less than 180 days in jail but up to two years
• A fine that can cost up to $10,000

If convicted of felony child endangerment, Albert could potentially lose her ability to teach in Texas.