Grandfather jailed after stranding girl in the desert

PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona man has been sentenced to six months in jail after prosecutors say he left his 5-year-old granddaughter alone in the desert with a loaded handgun and stopped at a restaurant.

Authorities in Maricopa County, Arizona, say Paul Rater took his granddaughter for a ride in his new pickup truck in November and got lost in the desert.

He told authorities the vehicle got stuck and they had to walk for help.

Rater told them he left the girl under a tree with a gun when she couldn’t walk anymore.

A helicopter later located the uninjured girl. He was later found eating and drinking at a restaurant.

Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery says Rater was sentenced recently  after pleading guilty to felony child abuse.