Kids left alone; mom charged

AUSTINTOWN -- A mother has been charged with child endangerment after her 1-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter were found alone in a motel room, police said.
An employee at the Best Value Inn and Suites, 1051 N. Canfield-Niles Road, called police about the children Saturday about 1 a.m., a police report said. The employee wasn't sure how long the children had been left alone.
Police found an ID card in the room for Alicia C. Pierce, 20, 1587 Oak St., Youngstown, who is the children's mother, and a list of numbers next to the telephone. They were able to contact Pierce's grandmother, who came to pick up the children.
They also called Mahoning County Children Services, who told police they'd follow up on the case Monday.
Pierce contacted the police at 3:36 a.m. Saturday to find out where her children were, the report said. Police went back to the motel and arrested her. She told police she had left the room at about noon Friday and had returned about 3:35 a.m. Saturday, the report said.
She also was wanted on a warrant from Youngstown on charges of failing to appear in court on charges of driving under suspension, leaving the scene of an accident and assured clear distance, the report said.
She appeared in Mahoning County Court No. 4 for an arraignment Monday, where she pleaded innocent and was freed on $1,250 bond. She is set to appear for a pretrial in court at 1 p.m. April 17.