Mother arrested for neglecting children

Five children were taken into protective services after their mother left them home alone.

At approximately 1 p.m. Thursday, deputies from the Tulare County Sheriff Department’s Porterville Division responded to a home in the 15400 block of Road 222 for a 911 hang up.

Upon arrival, deputies found five children, between the ages of 1 and 8.

While investigating, deputies determined there were no adults caring for the children. The deputies reported that it appeared the children had been left alone for the entire day.

In addition, deputies located a running electric space heater that had a child’s blanket pushed up and wrapped around it, creating an immediate and extreme fire danger, they said.

Tulare County Child Welfare Services responded and took custody of the children.

The children’s mother, Ruby Corona Sepulveda, 29, of Porterville was eventually located and taken into custody for child neglect and endangerment.

The case remains under investigation by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department.