By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2026-06-22 23:24:27 | Updated at 2026-06-23 00:41:06
1 hour ago
A Texas healthcare executive and her husband avoided jail time after striking a deal with Florida prosecutors in a child neglect case stemming from allegations that they left their 6-month-old baby unattended on a beach while they went for a walk.
Sara Sommers Wilks, 37, a regional president at US Heart and Vascular in Houston, and her husband, Brian David Wilks, 40, entered deferred prosecution agreements that will allow them to avoid criminal prosecution if they comply with a series of conditions over the next year.
Under the agreements signed last month the couple must each pay $1,000 in fines and court costs, complete 25 hours of community service, attend a parenting class, stay out of legal trouble and remain barred from Walton County in the Florida Panhandle.
Prosecutors agreed to drop the charges if they satisfy the terms of the deals within a 12-month period — though the agreements allow for termination after six months if all conditions are satisfied and the parties to the deal don’t violate the law within that time frame.
The agreements also require them to waive their right to a speedy trial.
News of the agreements was first reported by DailyMail.com.
The couple was arrested on Oct. 10 of last year after deputies responded to reports of an unattended infant on Miramar Beach.
According to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, witnesses told authorities the baby had been left alone for nearly an hour while the parents walked away with their three other children.
Good Samaritans cared for the infant until deputies arrived, authorities said.
The child was evaluated by South Walton Fire District personnel and was found to have normal vital signs and was not in distress, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies said the parents returned to the scene and told investigators they had put the infant down for a nap and lost track of time.
The parents told investigators that they didn’t think it would be a problem since the baby usually napped around the time they are alleged to have walked off, according to the sheriff’s office.
Security footage reviewed by investigators allegedly showed the family away from the child for nearly an hour and without a cell phone, according to authorities.
The Florida Department of Children and Families responded to the scene following the incident and took custody of the children pending the arrival of relatives from Texas, according to the sheriff’s office.
Both parents were charged with child neglect without causing great bodily harm, a felony offense under Florida law.
The case drew widespread attention because of Sara Wilks’ role in the healthcare industry.
In April 2025, Cardiovascular Business named her to its “Forty Under 40 Class of 2025,” identifying her as regional president of US Heart and Vascular in Houston.
The publication said she helped create “a more cost-effective and streamlined experience for patients” and was recognized for leadership within the cardiovascular care industry.
The Post has sought comment from Sara and Brian Wilks.
