A St. Paul woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to gross-misdemeanor child neglect after she left her 2-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son home alone and the boy was found on a street corner.

The boy had wandered from home and was found about a mile and a half away at 2 a.m. Nov. 15 wrapped in towel and not wearing a shirt or shoes. The temperature was 34 degrees.

Chatel L. Chase, 25, will be sentenced April 30 by District Judge Margaret Marrinan and will likely get 100 hours of community service and be required to take parenting classes.

According to documents and news reports, Chase left home about 1 a.m. Nov. 15 to stop at the store and pick up a friend.

She said she thought she'd be gone for about 15 minutes but got lost and was gone for at least an hour.

Chase's children were put into protective custody for three weeks after the incident.

PAT PHEIFER