Police say 6 children left unattended

An Ironton couple is behind bars following allegations that children in their home as young as a year old were left unattended.

According to Ironton Police Detective Joe Ross, children’s services was performing an inspection of the home in the 1800 block of South Fifth Street on Monday, which led a case worker to discover six children, all under the age of 10, alone in the home.

“There wasn’t anyone there,” Ross said. “A 9-year-old answered the door.”

Arrested Wednesday were Juanita Jenkins, 39, and Billy Cooper, 27, both of the same address. Each was charged with six counts of misdemeanor child endangerment.

Ross said three of the children belonged to Jenkins, and none of the children were harmed, but there had been complaints at the residence before, he said.

“It’s just astonishing that someone could leave a 1-year-old alone,” Ross said.

Jenkins and Cooper are expected to appear today in Ironton Municipal Court

The maximum penalty for a first-degree misdemeanor is 180 days in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.