WICHITA FALLS ( KFDX/KJTL ) — A 23-year-old Wichita Falls mother gets a suspended jail sentence for putting her four young children at risk.

Nyjaiah Battle was arrested in August after police said three of her toddlers, ages 1-3, were left home alone and the youngest was found wandering outside.

The fourth, a 5-year-old, was found with the stepdad in violation of a protective order.

Police became aware of the situation when they were called to the Murphy’s gas station on Lawrence Road about an aggressive panhandler who had a small girl with him.

Police said the 5-year-old was his stepdaughter and was listed as one of the protected persons he was not supposed to be around.

Police contacted Battle, the girl’s mother, who came to the scene, as did Child Protective Services because they had an open case involving all Battle’s children.

The CPS officer asked where the other three kids were, and the officers said Battle became confrontational.

After police handcuffed her, they said she told them her other three children were with her mother at an apartment off Taft. But when police contacted the children’s grandmother, she told them she was not with the children and, in fact, was traveling near Temple, TX.

Officers went to the apartment and found no one in it, but found the 1-year-old wandering alone outside.

CPS arrived and located the 2 and 3-year-olds alone in another apartment. They said all of them were in urine-soaked diapers.

CPS officials also said there was a strong odor of marijuana in the apartment, and there were burned marijuana butts scattered throughout.

Battle pleaded guilty Friday, September 27, to her three counts of child abandonment and was sentenced to 2 years state jail, suspended to 3 years probation.

This is a developing story. Stick with Texoma’s Homepage for updates as more information becomes available. All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com.