A Jefferson Township couple is accused of leaving three children, ages 1, 7 and 11, unsupervised at home for more than three hours to go to a bar.

When Zachary D. Bujak, 33, and Nikki A. Mathews, 28, returned home Thursday night, state police were waiting. Police subsequently arrested both, including Bujak for drunken driving.

Police said they believe Bujak and Mathews went to an unspecified bar between 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., leaving the 11-year-old to watch the younger children.

It was not immediately clear if the defendants are the parents of any or all of the children.

The oldest child, a boy, later called 911 to report he was choking on candy. An ambulance was sent to the home on Route 356, authorities said. Police were called around 10:20 p.m. to assist the ambulance crew.

Contact was made with Bujak, police said, and 10 minutes later he pulled into the driveway with Mathews riding in the vehicle.

Trooper Francis Walters said he smelled alcohol while speaking to Bujak, who admitted to drinking two beers earlier in the evening. He later showed impairment during field sobriety tests.

Police took him for a breath test, which indicated his blood-alcohol level was 0.137 percent. A level of 0.08 percent is considered intoxicated under state law.

Bujak has two prior convictions for driving under the influence, according to charging documents, one in Iowa in 2014 and the other in 2015 in Maryland.

Authorities said Butler County Children and Youth Services was notified that night and they took custody of the children.

District Judge William Fullerton arraigned both defendants on misdemeanor charges of child endangerment. Bujak also was arraigned for DUI. They were later released on nonmonetary bond with conditions.

Among those bond conditions are that both defendants report to the adult probation office and abstain from drugs or alcohol. They also must follow any recommendations from CYS.

Additionally, Bujak is required to wear a Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor, an ankle bracelet that immediately alerts law enforcement and probation and parole officers when the person wearing the device consumes alcohol.

Preliminary hearings for the defendants are scheduled for May 13 at the office of District Judge Sue Haggerty in Saxonburg. Their attorney, Michael Zunder, did not immediately return a telephone call Tuesday.