A toddler was left to sleep outside the house in Florida by her dad as Hurricane Irma hit the state.
The man, a convicted felon, was arrested after the 19-month-old child was found "purple" after spending the night outside, surviving hurricane winds and heavy rain.
Angelo Mitchell, 36, has been charged with felony child abuse without great bodily harm.
The girl was found by a neighbour lying in her front yard. Witnesses say she was "purple", covered in scratches and bug bites.
The child's mother reported her missing at 11.30pm on Sunday, after Mitchell failed to return with the girl. The man denied that he had taken the girl in the first place.
He has since admitted to having had several drinks while he had his daughter in his care.
Mitchell is a previously convicted fellon, after being found guilty of felony batter in 2011 when he dragged a woman by her hair. He has three restraining orders against his name.