Pair accused of leaving kids in hot car while high on synthetic pot

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A man and woman are accused of leaving two young children in a hot car while high on synthetic pot, commonly known as Kush, on Monday, court documents show.

Ashlea M. Jones, 26, and Christopher Alexander, 27, are charged with endangering a child. The two remain in jail Tuesday following the startling accusations.

Harris County Sheriff's Office investigators say Jones and Alexander left a 2-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy inside a car without air conditioning in a high-crime and high-traffic area. HCSO says it received a call from a maintenance man on Monday around 2:40pm at the Gallery at Champion apartment complex.

One of the children was asleep inside the car, according to court records. The two accused were also sleeping in the car. According to weather records, the temperature was 81 degrees with the real-feel temperature around 88 degrees.

Witnesses say the kids were wearing dirty diapers and had been running around in the street just before law enforcement arrived on scene. Prosecutors said the couple admitted to smoking synthetic marijuana and passed out for at least an hour.

Deputies say they found clear "baggies" in the car. The children were treated by emergency medical response, but they were OK, HCSO says.

In open court, Jones responded to the allegations leveled against her.

"I want to consider a lawyer. Also, that report that was done it had so much in there so I'm going to have to fight this case," said Jones.

Child Protection Services told abc13 late Tuesday afternoon the two children are now in foster care.