Breanna White and Evan White, both 26, were arrested early Sunday after a caller reported shortly after midnight that two small children might be unsupervised. When deputies arrived at the residence, they found the children — a 3-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl — alone, the sheriff's office said.

The parents returned to the home a few minutes later, according to deputies. The couple allegedly admitted they had left the children by themselves around 8 p.m. while they went out to dinner. According to the sheriff's office, the Whites told deputies they came back after eating but then decided to head to a local bar, leaving the toddlers alone a second time.

In a report, the sheriff's office underscored the children's vulnerability: "Due to the very young age of both children involved, it isn't reasonable to believe they could fend for themselves in the absence of a parent or guardian."

Both parents were taken into custody and charged with child abandonment. Jail records indicate they were booked and released the same day on $5,000 bonds each.

The children have been placed with family members by Child Protective Services while the investigation continues, the sheriff's office said.

Child abandonment in Texas can be charged as a state jail felony or a second-degree felony depending on the circumstances, including whether the child is younger than 15 and whether the caregiver had intent to return. The case remains under investigation, and no further details about the children's condition or the family's history with CPS were immediately available.

Residents with concerns about a child's welfare can contact the Texas Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400 or call 911 in an emergency.