Parents charged with leaving their toddlers in a freezing car for an hour while they were inside a bar appeared in court Wednesday.
Christophe Lucas and his wife, Jennie Chang, are both charged with attempted cruelty to children and face up to 10 years in prison.
A pedestrian called 911 after she heard a little girl crying hysterically as she walked by the vehicle in Foggy Bottom, according to police. Upon arrival, police found a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old strapped into their car seats in the locked car, with the windows all the way up.
The parents told police they left an iPhone in the car to monitor the children while they attended a wine tasting at Ris, located on L Street. According to police, the restaurant manager said the couple was inside for more than an hour.
The children were taken into custody by Child and Family Services the night they were discovered.
Lucas and Chang are due back in court early next month.
