The kids were left for about 19 minutes while their father inquired about a gym membership at Retro Fitness in Berkeley Township, authorities said.
BERKELEY -- Authorities arrested a man Monday after he allegedly left two young children in his car on a sweltering day earlier this month.
Yordy Santanacastillo, a 28-year-old Forked River resident, left his two kids, ages 1 and 3, in his car for about 19 minutes Sept. 9, when temperatures neared 100 degrees, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday.
Santanacastillo left his vehicle parked, with the ignition off, in the Retro Fitness parking lot on Route 9 in Berkeley Township around 4:40 p.m. while he inquired about a gym membership, the office said.
Witnesses saw Santanacastillo leave the children in the car, according to authorities.
Santanacastillo was charged with two counts of child abuse, a fourth-degree offense. He was released from police custody with a summons, and will appear in Ocean County Superior Court on a later date.
Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.