NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A woman who lived in military housing at Fort Eustis has admitted to a series of crimes after authorities say she drove drunk and left a small child home alone.
Rachel Lorane Pendergrast, 30, pleaded guilty in federal court to assault, driving under the influence of alcohol, and felony child neglect.
According to court documents, the incident that drew police attention happened on Dec. 3, 2025. Pendergrast was home caring for her three young children while her husband was away. Prosecutors say she began drinking vodka that morning.
When it was time to pick up her oldest child from school or childcare, Pendergrast left the house with her one-year-old but left her three-year-old behind alone.
A neighbor soon called law enforcement after spotting the toddler outside.
The child was standing near the edge of the road, crying and trying to cross the street. It was about 48 degrees outside, and the child was wearing only a diaper and a T-shirt.
About ten minutes later, Pendergrast returned with the other two children in her vehicle.
When officers arrived, they reported that she appeared disoriented, with glossy eyes and a strong odor of alcohol. Two roadside breath tests showed blood alcohol concentrations of .304 and .298, nearly four times the legal driving limit. Even about five hours after she had been driving, a later test still showed her blood alcohol level at .18, according to court records.
The case also includes an earlier domestic incident.
Prosecutors say that on the morning of June 17, 2025, Pendergrast repeatedly struck her husband in front of their five-year-old child. The assault was captured on video. When officers arrived at the home, they found Pendergrast passed out on the couch and intoxicated.
Pendergrast now faces up to seven years in prison. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, when a federal judge will weigh the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors before deciding the final penalty.
Cases involving crimes on military installations like Fort Eustis are often handled in federal court because the base falls under federal jurisdiction.