HOWLAND A Warren man pleaded “not guilty” Monday to four misdemeanor counts of endangering children after Howland Township police say they found his four children left inside a sweltering car at a local grocery store.

 Jeremy Mack, 26, of Hartzell Ave., was arrested by Howland Township Police on Saturday after witnesses reported he had left the children in a vehicle that was not running for over 40 minutes. The incident occurred outside a grocery store on Niles Cortland Road SE.

Police dispatched around 6 p.m. said they found store employees surrounding Mack and his vehicle in the parking lot.  The temperature was over 90 degrees at the time.

Howland Fire Department personnel were called to the scene to assess the condition of the children, ages 2, 5, 7, and 8.

Their mother arrived and told police she had no idea Mack had left the children in the car. She told police that Saturday was his day to have the children.

The mother also said two of the children have medical conditions, including one with autism and another who suffers from seizures.

Mack was also arrested on a warrant for failure to appear in Newton Falls Court for driving with a suspended license.

He was arraigned on Monday at Warren Municipal Court, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court issued a no-contact order with the children as a condition of his bond unless approved by Children's Services.

 

Mack is scheduled to appear in court for a contested case hearing on Sept. 2 at 10:15 a.m. before Judge Patricia Knepp.