Angelia Varner, a Newton, Iowa mother, was arrested after her toddler fell out a second-story window after leaving three children at home alone

Angelia Varner, a Newton, Iowa mother, was arrested after her toddler fell out a second-story window after leaving three children at home alone, as neighbors claim she frequently leaves the newborns unsupervised.

Angelia Varner, 35, of Newton, was released on personal recognizance after being arrested on Monday and charged with one count of child maltreatment.

Varner's arrest comes after charges that she left her three small children alone on August 18 while going to the parking lot of her Newton, Iowa residence.

According to a criminal complaint, Varner told detectives she left her three small children — ages 23 months, 3 years old, and 9 years old — alone 'for a few minutes' while she stepped outdoors. She told authorities that she had left her 9-year-old in charge of the smaller children.

Police said multiple neighbors witnessed the toddler fall while Varner was outside in the parking lot. According to authorities, the toddler sustained 'abrasions and injuries' to her head after falling approximately 12 feet (3.65 meters).

When police entered Varner's flat, they discovered that the window through which the little child fell had a'significantly' torn screen. The tear produced an opening large enough for a tiny child to fall through.

Angelia Varner, Newton, Iowa mother arrested after toddler falls out second story window of apartment.

But there’s more.

During police questioning, the mom admitted the screen had been torn for ’several months,’ along with saying that she knew it was open when she left the apartment that day.

In her defense, the parent claimed she was ‘trying to cool the home,’ the complaint noted.

The apartment manager told police that Varner never requested that her window be fixed.

According to the complaint, Varner’s neighbors told police that they often saw the three children ‘play at the open window and/or lean out of it.’ The neighbors also said that they often allegedly saw the children ‘unattended’ and playing outside without their mother around.

The whereabouts of the children’s father was not immediately known.

Varner who was booked into the Jasper County Jail following her arrest was released on her own recognizance and is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 2.