SEALY, Texas (AP) - A Southeast Texas couple are in jail after a state inspector found six children locked in tool shed behind an unlicensed daycare center.
State officials say the children were surrounded by lawn equipment, gasoline and insecticide when they were found Wednesday.
Austin County District Attorney Travis Koehn says 55-year-old Marietta Patek is charged with six counts of child endangerment, while her 47-year-old husband, Freddie Patek, faces an evidence tampering charged. Bond has been set at $10,000 for each. They have no attorney of record to comment on their behalf, jail officials said Thursday.
Child Protective Services spokeswoman Gwen Carter says 14 children ranging from toddlers to preteens were kept at the house. She says the Pateks could legally care only for three children at a time.
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