Children's fire deaths lead to child-endangering pleas

MARION, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio couple has pleaded guilty to child endangering in an apartment fire that killed two young children.

Twenty-four-year-old Daniel Barrett and 20-year-old Cheyenne Tackett entered their pleas this week to two counts each of child endangering in Marion, 42 miles north of Columbus.

Authorities said the May 8 fire in Marion that killed 2-year-old Jacob Tackett and 8-month-old Madison Barrett was started by another child playing with a lighter. Prosecutors said the parents were sleeping at the time and often stayed up late and slept during the day, leaving four children unsupervised.

Daniel Barrett and Cheyenne Tackett face up to 10 years in prison when they’re sentenced in coming weeks. Prosecutors plan to recommend much lighter sentences.