Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 | 2:32 p.m.
Jonathan Weaver
A man accused of tying up and gagging two children and leaving them alone in a garage was arraigned today in Clark County District Court.
Jonathan Weaver, 20, pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, child abuse and attempted murder charges in connection with tying up the two toddlers who were left in his care.
Weaver is scheduled to appear in Judge James Bixler's court Oct. 20 to set a trial date.
A family walking by the Augusta Apartments, 10175 Spencer St., on June 9 heard a baby crying from inside an apartment garage and called police.
Firefighters cut open the garage door to find the two toddlers in car seats, their hands bound with a white rope or twine that also wrapped around their necks. A piece of clothing was stuffed in both boys' mouths.
The children, now ages 3 and 22 months, were taken to St. Rose Dominican Hospital-Siena with non-life-threatening injuries.
The garage belonged to Weaver's mother, who told police her son lived with her at the apartment.
According to police, the children belonged to Weaver's girlfriend, Amy Beltran, who was taking night classes and left the boys with Weaver.
Weaver told police he believed the boys would be safe in the garage while he went to a neighborhood bar to watch an NBA Finals game with a friend.
Weaver allegedly told police that they had "camp outs" in the garage and he tied their hands so they couldn't grab tools that were in the garage. He said he played with the children for about 20 to 30 minutes until they fell asleep, then left, according to police.
Beltran is pregnant with Weaver's child, according to police.
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