Boardman man arrested on child endangering charges

BOARDMAN — A township man faces child endangering charges after police said he left his two young children home alone for more than an hour. The incident also led police to contact U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is monitoring the man.

Charged is Francisco Lux-Castro, 23, of Glenwood Avenue.

Police were dispatched to his residence about 12:45 p.m. Monday for a welfare check on two children, according to a police report.

Police reported finding a 6-year-old and a 2-year-old home alone with the door unlocked.

Mahoning County Children Services was notified and came to the residence.

While police and children services were getting ready to leave with the kids, Lux-Castro arrived back home, police said.

Through a translator, Lux-Castro told police he “went to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription and food” and had only been gone 20 minutes. Police said he was gone at least 70 minutes.

Lux-Castro requested the kids be left with someone who knew until his wife arrived.

He was arrested on two counts of child endangering.

The report notes that police contacted ICE, which advised that it was OK to release Lux-Castro on a court summons.

Police said Lux-Castro, whose listed place of birth is Guatemela, is being monitored by ICE via ankle bracelet.