A Bismarck woman has been charged with two counts of abuse or neglect of a child for allegedly leaving her 11-month-old twins home alone to go drinking.

Bonnie Elk, 27, was charged with the Class C felonies Monday at the Burleigh County Courthouse.

South Central District Judge Gail Hagerty set bond for Elk at $1,000 cash and prohibited her from using alcohol or having contact with her children.

Bismarck Police Lt. Dan Donlin said a 30-year-old Bismarck man called police Saturday at 3:09 a.m. to report his children's mother had left their son and daughter, 11-month-old twins, home alone.

The father said a 24-year-old woman told him she saw Elk leaving their apartment building at 330 W. Arbor Ave. around 1 a.m. Saturday and getting in a car.

The children were found alone in the apartment, Donlin said.

They were turned over to the custody of the father, who is separated from the mother, Donlin said.

He said Elk was found and arrested at a home in Mandan.

She was intoxicated, he said.

- Jenny Michael