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Mother found passed out told judge she needs to care for her kids

GASTONIA, N.C. — A woman charged with child abuse told a judge Friday afternoon she needed to get out to care for her children. The judge rejected Jamie Revels' request.

Revels said in court she has a special needs child she has to care for along with her 4- and 5-year-olds.

The judge didn't think it was enough to lower her $10,000 bond.

Witness Michael Harold is relieved with the judge's decision. He saw Revels behind the wheel of a car in the middle of Myrtle Street around midnight Thursday night. The car was in park, but the engine was running.

"And she was just passed out at the steering wheel," he said.

He was stunned to find her 4- and 5-year-old children sleeping in their car seats.

"I've got four little boys," he said.

He feared if he woke her up, she might drive away and he said she was in no shape to drive.

He called police.

"I feel I saved some children's lives," Harold said. "If they would have went on and crashed I feel like them children's blood would have been on my hands."
He said police had trouble waking Revels. She didn't wake up when they reached in and turned off the engine.

"They put a flash light in her face and kind of shook her," Harold said. "When she finally did come to she didn't know where she was."

Police said she was impaired by a substance other than alcohol and they found illegal prescription pills in her car.

"I can't believe it. I mean I just don't believe it," said neighbor Barbara Bolding.

Bolding lives next door to Revels and says she has always been attentive to her children.

"She makes sure her kids gets in school," Bolding said. "She makes sure they get plenty to eat and they get in bed at a certain time."

Now Revels' children are in the custody of other family members. Revels has previous misdemeanor driving convictions.

However, this the first time she has faced a DWI charge or charges of crimes against children.