Mother arrested for child neglect

The mother of two children, who were found alone on a basketball court, was arrested for allegedly being under the influence and neglect, the Porterville Police Department reported.

An anonymous citizen brought two children, ages 4 and 5, to the police department at 6:48 p.m. Sunday and told officers they had been found alone. The children were on the basketball courts of Olive Street School around 5:30 p.m. Sunday and they were unable to identify or direct the citizen to their residence.

Officers interviewed the two kids, but they were unable to indicate where they lived or provide identifying names or information for their guardians.

Child Welfare Services was notified and responded to the police department to take custody of the two.

At approximately 8:10 p.m., the mother of the children, Jestina Martinez, 27, called reporting two children were missing from their residence in the 100 block of West Putnam Avenue.

Officers responded and interviewed Martinez along with her four other minor children, ages 2, 7, 9 and 10. Martinez was allegedly under the influence of a controlled substance.

All of the children were detained by Child Welfare Services and Martinez was arrested for child neglect and under the influence of a controlled substance.