Babysitter facing endangerment charges says she's innocent and has proof

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) -- A babysitter who set off a statewide Silver Alert is now facing charges. Police say she brought the little girl she was taking care of to a late night pool party and the mother claims she did it without her permission.

"Are you afraid to babysit now other than your god daughter," asked News 8's Erin Logan.

"Yes 'cause I've never had this problem and I babysit kids all the time and never had a problem," said Samya Quinones.

But early Sunday morning 20-year-old Quinones had a big problem. She was arrested for child endangerment after a statewide silver alert went out.

Bridgeport Police say she took 2-year-old Mackenzie Hill to a late night pool party at the Hyatt Hotel in Shelton without the mother's permission.

Quinones says she let Mackenzie's mother know a week ago that if she needed her to babysit, she had to take Mackenzie to a family party at the hotel.

"So you feel like you were arrested for no reason," asked news 8's Logan.

"Basically," said Quinones.

Quinones says her mother rented two rooms and other kids were there.

"This is my god daughter. I keep her for two and three weeks straight," said Quinones.

Police say Mackenzie's mother called them when Quinones wasn't answering the phone so they went to Quinones' home, then to her mother's home in Derby.

It was Quinones' mother's neighbor who let police know that they may be at the Hyatt hotel. That's when police were able to track down the babysitter.

"My phone died and I told her when I got up, it was like 4:30, I got all these messages from the police," said Quinones.

"So you were sleeping when police called you," asked News 8's Logan.

"Yes," said Quinones.

She says she's innocent and has proof.

"'And if she goes to the pool you have to watch her 'cause she will jump in,' so I have texts messages from her, I have a bunch of witnesses," said Quinones.

"So you're saying these text messages are from her mom," asked News 8's Logan.

"From her mom. I gave her my mother's address and her best friend has my mother's cell phone number, she has my number, she has my girlfriend's number," said Quinones.

News 8 stopped by Mackenzie's mother's home, but no one answered the door or the phone.

Quinones is hopeful the friend friend who got her the babysitting gig, also a friend of Mackenzie's mother, will convince her to drop the charges.