Kalispell women accused of locking kids in basement

KALISPELL, Mont. – Two Kalispell women are facing charges for allegedly locking three children in a dark basement without food and access to a toilet.

The Flathead Beacon reported that Amy Newman and Crystal Mears have been charged with felony criminal endangerment.

Court documents say the Department of Family Services had removed four children from a home in March after learning that the two suspects were regularly locking three of the children in a basement. The children are 9, 11 and 12.

Police searched the basement and say the found locks on the door, boarded up windows and a bucket for the children to go to the bathroom.

Newman and Mears allegedly told police they kept the children locked in the basement at night.