Jan 22, 2015 2 min read

CHARLEROI – A Washington woman was charged in a summons with child endangerment over accusations she left three children alone in a Charleroi apartment for more than an hour Tuesday.

Charleroi Regional police filed three counts of the charge against Nikita Hoberek, 25, of 2884 Wilson St., after finding the children, one of whom was sick with a fever, alone about 4 p.m. at 926 McKean Ave., court records state.

Police said the mother, Tina Roberts, was in Westmoreland County jail at the time, and had placed the children in the care of Hoberek and a man, the affidavit indicates.

Police said an officer asked one of the children who was supposed to be watching them and he replied, “Aunt Nikki and Pap,” and that he didn’t know where they were.

The officer took the children to the police station and purchased them food after learning they hadn’t eaten that day, and discovering the only items to eat in the apartment were “mostly condiments” and a small amount of rice and cereal, the record states.

The child who was ill was treated at Monongahela Valley Hospital for an ear infection and pink eye.

Police said Hoberek was contacted and said she was attending her grandmother’s funeral, but she declined to give a location where she could be found.

The children were placed in the care of Washington County Children and Youth Services.