Boardman man arrested on child-endangering charges

Staff report

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, according to a police report, is monitoring the man.

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

Police were sent to his residence about 12:45 p.m. Monday for a welfare check on two children, according to the 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 children, Lux-Castro arrived 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 he knew until his wife arrived.

He was arrested on two counts of child endangering.

The report notes police contacted ICE, which advised it was OK to release Lux-Castro on a court summons. Police said Lux-Castro, whose listed place of birth is Guatemala, is being monitored by ICE via ankle bracelet.

ICE did not respond Tuesday to a request for information about Lux-Castro.