Police: Man leaves children home alone to drink at bar

Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.com

HANOVER TWP. - A man was arrested over the weekend for leaving three children home alone while he was drinking at a bar, according to arrest records.

Keith Allen Rucker, 38, of South Main Street, Hanover Township, was charged with three counts each of endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person. He remained jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility on Monday for lack of $30,000 bail.

Township police allege in the criminal complaint that Rucker was watching a 9-year old, a 5-year old and a 4-month old that he left home alone while he drank at a bar. When the children's mother returned home, she found the 4-month old wearing a diaper that needed changing, according to the criminal complaint.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled on June 22 in Central Court.