Posted on Tue, Jan. 08, 2008

By ALEX BRANCH abranch@star-telegram.com

FORT WORTH — The father of a 2-year-old girl left alone at Chuck E. Cheese over the weekend said Tuesday that he’s a good father who takes care of his three children.

"Anyone who knows me knows I love my kids," said Brandon Bonner James, wiping tears from his eyes. "I always take care of them."

James' daughter, Almedia "Mimi" James, remained in the custody of Child Protective Services on Tuesday afternoon while investigators interviewed family members.

Almedia was found shoeless and alone Saturday evening at the southwest Fort Worth restaurant, where her aunts had taken her for a birthday party. Both aunts thought the other one was taking Almedia home, police said.

The girl could only tell police officers that her name was "Mimi."

After no one reported the girl missing for two days, police on Monday distributed her picture to the media hoping that someone would recognize her. James’ neighbors informed him late Monday afternoon that his daughter was on television, police said. He called police and told them he was the father.

James told police that he didn’t realize his daughter was missing because she often stays weekends with her aunts, said Lt. Dan Draper, a police spokesman. Also, he does not have a telephone on which he could have checked with them.

Prosecutors reviewed the case Tuesday and decided not to pursue charges against the family, he said.

"At this time, we have no reason to believe this was anything other than a miscommunication between family members," Draper said.

Almedia appears in good health and CPS has no record of ever investigating her family, said Marissa Gonzales, a CPS spokeswoman. In interviews with police, her relatives were distraught over the mistake, she said.

"And appropriately so," she added.

James, 26, spoke briefly to reporters Tuesday afternoon outside his apartment before he left in a car with relatives. Lytrell Jordan, a close family friend, said James and the baby's mother were working with CPS to obtain the girl's return.

James was shocked when he heard his daughter was missing, even worried that something had happened to his sister, who he thought was watching her, Jordan said.

"He didn't know if his sister had been murdered or what," Jordan said. "He's been real, real upset."

Jordan described Almedia as a happy child, who played most days in the apartment's playground. He said she was probably found shoeless because she had taken off her shoes to play at the restaurant.

James' sisters were upset about the miscommunication, he said.

"They were over here crying last night," Jordan said.

Almedia remained in temporary foster care Tuesday while CPS workers continued their investigation, Gonzales said. It was unclear when a decision on whether to return the child to her father would be made. Draper said CPS officials may consult a family court judge first.

"He just wants to get her back," Jordan said of James. "He loves his kids. This was all a big mistake."

Alex Branch, 817-390-7689

http://www.star-telegram.com/metro_news/story/397731.html

Emphasis added by H4K Editor