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Couple Behind Bars After Kids Found Wandering In Street

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) -- A mother behind bars defended herself after, officers say, drivers nearly hit her two toddlers who were spotted wandering in a busy street. Both parents are now behind bars at the Sacramento County Jail.

"We try to take the best care of our children as we can," said Oksana Lyamin.

But cops say that care wasn't good enough. That is why Lyamin and her boyfriend are behind bars.

"If I would have known, I would have never let the situation happen," said Oksana.

Police say that on Sunday night Lyamin's 3-year-old and 1-year-old sons were wandering in the middle of the street. A driver who nearly hit them called 911.

"It was a misunderstanding. I love my children," said Lyamin. "They were with me all the time," she added.

Lyamin claims she and her boyfriend, Pavel Ojeyivich, asked a teenaged family member to watch their kids while they took a nap inside their Del Paso Heights home, but she thinks that family member didn't understand the request

"I thought she was watching my kids so somebody must have opened the gates because there's so many people living in the house," she said.

The baby and toddler were found blocks away from their home by cops who eventually woke Oksana and her boyfriend up and placed them in handcuffs.

"We live in a dangerous world, how do you just let them go like that?" said a neighbor.

Neighbors were shocked, wondering about the children now with CPS.

"I can't imagine how they must feel emotionally because they know who their parents are and now they're not with their parents," she added.

Oksana meanwhile plans on fighting the charges and reuniting with her kids.

"I want my children to be with me because I love them. I would never, never let them go outside if I wasn't out there," said Oksana.

Pavel Ojeyivich and Oksana Lymin are accused of abusing or endangering the health of a child. Pavel didn't want to speak with CBS13. Police have not released his photo.

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