Mom admits leaving 4 kids in home alone, says 'lesson learned'

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A mother admits to leaving her four small children home alone, with no running water and only a bucket to use as a toilet.

Christina Jones, 28, is charged with child endangerment after prosecutors say she left her four children under the age of seven home alone for hours. The seven-year-old called police because he was afraid, according to police.

The officer who responded noted the house was unsanitary and unsafe, with doors and windows unlocked. The children showed the officer they had been using the bathroom in buckets in the garage.

Jones admits she left her children at home alone.

"Although I did leave my kids at home by themselves, it wasn't for 13 hours; it was just one and a half hours," Jones said. "It was just a lesson learned. I'm a grown woman, I accept what I did was wrong and I'm here to face my consequences."

Jones says their home is under renovation after a fire damaged 25 percent of their home a few months ago. The children are in the care of relatives for now.

Jones is not allowed to make contact with them until after her court date in April.