Bienaimer pleads ‘Not Guilty’ and demands jury trial
A 27-year-old Sarasota resident has been charged with Child Neglect without Great Bodily Harm following the discovery of a young child alone in an apartment complex parking lot about 4 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 17, the Sarasota Police Department has reported.
The initial Police Department news release, issued about 5:17 a.m., said officers were looking for the parents, guardian or other family members of the child. The young girl was discovered “wandering in the parking lot of Hunter Glen Apartments,” which stands at 2562 10th St. in Sarasota, the news release noted.
“The child is approximately 2 years old and speaks very few words,” the news release pointed out. “She was found wearing a flowery shirt and a diaper,” it added.
An aerial map shows that Hunters Glen Apartments is west of North Tuttle Avenue, in close proximity to Ed Smith Stadium.
“We appreciate the person who called 911 when they found her alone,” the release continued.
“If you recognize this child or know her parents, guardian or other family members, please call 911 or 941-316-1199,” the initial release requested.
A follow-up news release, issued at 6 a.m., said, “Thank you to everyone who shared our social media posts. Because of your help, Sarasota Police officers were able to find the child’s parent.”
That release did note that the case remained under investigation.
In response to a follow-up inquiry by The Sarasota News Leader, Genevieve Judge, supervisor of the agency’s Public Information Office, wrote in an Aug. 19 email that the child’s mother had been arrested and that “the child is safe with family now.”
The mother was identified as Ivyoon Monique Nicole Bienaimer in a Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office jail booking record; she was arrested on Aug. 17. Her address is listed as 2604 Hidden Lake Drive in Sarasota.
Bienaimer was released on Aug. 17 on $500 bond, the record notes. The News Leader learned from 12th Judicial Circuit Court records that the bond advisory form, which was signed by Judge Charles Williams, ordered that Bienaimer have no contact with the child except under supervision by a representative of the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Further, court records show that Bienaimer has pleaded “Not Guilty” to the charge and demanded a jury trial. She is being represented by Assistant Public Defender Connor Rupp.
Details of the Probable Cause Affidavit
The Probable Cause Affidavit for Bienaimer’s arrest says that Sarasota Police officers responded about 3:53 a.m. on Aug. 17 to a report of “a found child” at 2556 10th St. in Sarasota, which is part of the Hunter Glen Apartments complex.
When officers arrived, they saw a man carrying a small child, the affidavit notes. The man said he discovered the child “standing between two black vehicles that were parked directly in front of building 2556.”
The child was barefoot and wearing a white T-shirt, the affidavit continues; the officers observed “no obvious injuries.” The affidavit adds, “The child remained calm while with officers and would occasionally smile.”
Sarasota County Fire Department personnel arrived on the scene and evaluated the child, the affidavit continues. “No apparent medical issues or disabilities were identified,” it says, “and the child did not require medical transport.”
However, the affidavit points out, “The child would not speak with officers or provide any identifying information.” Nonetheless, it notes, “She was heard saying ‘bye’ to [Fire Department] personnel as they departed.”
“Officers conducted an extensive canvass of Hunter Glen and the surrounding residences in an attempt to identify the child and locate a parent or guardian,” the affidavit continues. “Officers checked surrounding buildings and common areas, knocked on doors, spoke with residents, ran vehicle registrations associated with nearby residences, and made contact with units that could reasonably have been associated with the child.” Yet, the affidavit says, the officers initially were “unable to identify the child, determine where she lived, or locate a parent or guardian. During this time, no parent or guardian approached officers looking for the child.”
Because of the child’s “young age,” the affidavit continues, plus “the early morning hour, the fact that she had been located outside barefoot and unattended,” and none of the officers could find “a responsible parent or guardian,” one officer contacted the Department of Children and Families (DCF), who arranged for a representative to respond to the scene.
While the investigation continued, the affidavit notes, the Police Department was advised that a woman had arrived at the agency’s headquarters on Adams Lane in downtown Sarasota. She was transported to the incident location, it adds.
“Ivyoon Bienaimer … initially stated that she had left [the child] in the care of her cousin while she was at work,” the affidavit says. The name she provided for the cousin was Tamara Brown, the affidavit continues.
Bienaimer then told officers that “she is employed at Sarasota Point [Rehabilitation Center] and normally works” from about 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., but she “had picked up an additional shift” from approximately 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. The facility is located at 2600 Courtland St. in Sarasota, its website says.
Then, the affidavit notes, Bienaimer explained that the person she had called a cousin “was actually a family friend” whom she contacts only by Snapchat and “who occasionally stays with her.” She was unable to provide contact information for Brown.
“A short time later,” the affidavit adds, “the child’s grandmother … arrived on scene. Bienaimer gave the child to the grandmother and advised officers that the grandmother was able to stay with and supervise the child.”
The affidavit points out, “Due to the inconsistencies” in Bienaimer’s explanation, “officers continued questioning her regarding who had actually been supervising the child.” The officers asked her “to provide a truthful account of what had occurred.” Finally, the affidavit says, she “admitted she had left [the child] home alone and unattended while she went to work her overnight shift.”
Because of the child’s age and the length of time the child was without adult supervision, “and the fact that the child was able to exit the residence and was subsequently located barefoot and unattended outside” at approximately 4 a.m. “in a parking area between vehicles,” the affidavit explains, “probable cause was established to believe Bienaimer had failed to provide the supervision necessary to protect the child from harm.”
The affidavit says that the child remained in the grandmother’s care “pending further direction from DCF.”