Mom Pleads Not Guilty After Children Found Alone Inside Burning Home

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DENVER (CBS4)- The mother accused of leaving two young boys home alone when their house caught fire in September has pleaded not guilty.

Rocio Arroyo-Reyes pleaded not guilty in court on Thursday to felony child abuse charges.

Rocio Arroyo-Reyes (credit: CBS)

Police say Arroyo-Reyes, 30, left her two young boys, ages 3 and 5, home alone on the day the fire broke out. She's been charged with two counts of child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury.

Rocio Arroyo-Reyes (credit: Denver police)

Firefighters wound up rescuing the children after arriving at the triplex on the morning of Sept. 29 and finding it in flames. The home is located on the 350 block of South Eliot Street.

A firefighter running to an ambulance with a child in his arms (credit: CBS)

According to court documents, she told investigators she had only been away from the home for a few minutes when she was taking an older child to get medication. Arroyo-Reyes collapsed on the street when she returned home and saw what happened.

Rocio Arroyo-Reyes (credit: CBS)

Denver Human Services is also involved but cannot share who has custody of her children.

A trail date has been set for spring 2016. Arroyo-Reyes has another hearing with human services at the end of January to focus on her children.