TURLOCK, CA - A man accused of leaving his 9-year-old alone at a Turlock fast-food restaurant while he was allegedly drinking at a bar was arrested for child neglect.
The alleged incident took place last Thursday night. Turlock police arrested Montgomery Borba Jr., 30, after officers found his son starting to walk home from a Jack in the Box at 100 N. Golden State Boulevard. The boy had reportedly been left at the restaurant for more than three hours.
Borba, who police say was intoxicated, was taken into custody a little after 11 p.m.
However, Borba said he had taken one, possibly two, Ambien earlier in the evening and instead of the pills making him sleepy and going to bed, he apparently left his house, but doesn't remember.
"The Ambien was supposed to put me to sleep not make me go out on the town," Borba said in an email. "This is an Ambien adverse reaction, not a drunk dad. Please take this into consideration."
Borba said he takes five medications daily.
"I'm an outpatient of a mental health facility," said Borba. "I've been on medications for quite awhile."
Borba said he took the Ambien an hour before he and his son were to watch a wrestling match on TV. He said he doesn't remember why they left the house, but he remembers going to Jack In The Box and then heading to the bar.
"I asked for a pen and for some reason I thought it was a good idea to write the name of my website on all of their papers."
Borba's website http://tymontpro.webuda.com/ talks about the dangers of medications and vaccines.
"I went back to the Jack In the Box and he was sitting there. He said, 'Oh yeah, they think I'm alone and they're giving me free food.' And that didn't click," Borba said.
Borba said police caught up with him and his son on the street.
Borba's arraignment is scheduled for January. He has since stopped taking Ambien and moved back in with his mother until he's comfortable with a new medication regimen.
"[My son] and I have a good relationship and then this happens," said Borba. "I don't want him to get the wrong idea about things."
News10/KXTV