‘Just unbelievable’: Virginia mom let her 5-year-old walk to a pond to collect goose feathers. Now she’s on the child abuse registry

A Virginia mother’s conviction for letting her 5-year-old son walk alone has sparked a heated debate over how much freedom parents should be allowed to give their children.

Karyann Parkinson of Williamsburg, Virginia, was found guilty of contributing to the delinquency of a minor after allowing her son, Samuel, to walk by himself to a local pond to collect goose feathers.

The ruling has caused particular controversy because Virginia is one of a handful of states with “reasonable childhood independence” laws, which are meant to protect parents from being criminally prosecuted for allowing their children to have age-appropriate independence.

CBS reports that the controversy began over the summer in Ford’s Colony, a gated community in Williamsburg known for its strict homeowners association (HOA) rules and private security force. According to Parkinson, her son Samuel loves nature and regularly collects goose feathers.

A disagreement broke out about the community’s rules

On the day of the incident, she gave him permission to walk roughly half a mile to a neighborhood pond. She expected him to collect the feathers and come straight back home.

Instead, a private security guard spotted the 5-year-old walking alone. The guard stopped the child and escorted him back to the Parkinson family’s home. A disagreement then broke out between Parkinson and the guard over the community’s rules.

Parkinson questioned whether any HOA bylaws actually prohibited children from walking around the neighborhood by themselves. The security guard reportedly argued that even if the practice was not specifically prohibited by community rules, it violated state law. The guard then contacted local law enforcement and Child Protective Services (CPS).

Parkinson and her family initially expected the case to be dismissed once it was reviewed by prosecutors and a judge. Instead, authorities moved forward with the case. Two weeks after the incident at the pond, Parkinson was officially charged.

The case eventually ended with a conviction and a six-month suspended sentence.

But the suspended jail sentence was not the only consequence. Parkinson was also placed on Virginia’s child abuse and neglect registry for seven years. The designation has affected her ability to participate in some of her son’s school and community activities. For example, she cannot volunteer in Samuel’s classroom or chaperone field trips until he reaches sixth grade.

The conviction has also raised questions about how Virginia’s childhood independence laws apply in cases like this. Virginia is one of 13 states to have passed a “Reasonable Childhood Independence” law. Often referred to as “free-range parenting” laws, they are intended to give parents legal protection when they allow their children to engage in independent, age-appropriate activities.

She’s going to appeal the conviction

Supporters of childhood independence argue that constantly monitoring children can get in the way of their development and confidence. Many people on social media have also spoken out in support of Parkinson.

“There’s also been, just unbelievable to get so many messages from a lot of moms who say that something similar has happened to them,” Parkinson said.

Parkinson is refusing to accept the conviction as the end of the matter. She has announced plans to appeal, with appellate court proceedings scheduled to begin in January.

Her appeal is expected to focus on Virginia’s childhood independence laws and whether allowing a 5-year-old to walk to a nearby pond should amount to criminal neglect.