A Northeast Iowa man faces charges for allegedly locking up his girlfriend's young children in a room, without food and access to a restroom.

On Friday morning, the Fayette County Sheriff was called out on the report of a man and woman yelling at a residence in Westgate. Responding deputies could hear the yelling from outside the home, and also found five small children, from 3 to 9 years old, in a bedroom window, crying.

The deputies gained entry into the home, and discovered that the boyfriend of the children's mother, 28 year old Joshua Steinbronn, had allegedly locked the children in the room for numerous hours, denying them food and access to a restroom.

The investigation also determined that Steinbronn had done this several times, leaving the children in the room, sometimes for over 24 hours at a time.

The children told the officers that they had to urinate in cups, and sometimes on the floor.

Authorities are not sure at this time of the role the mother played in these incidents. The Department of Human Services has been called in, and took custody of all of the children.

Steinbronn was taken into custody on five counts of false imprisonment, five counts of child endangerment, and possession of drug paraphernalia, as officers found the contraband during a search of the home. He was released after posting bond, and an order of protection was issued to protect the children.

Two other people, who were renting a room at the house, were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. They were identified as 22 year old Megan Owens and 20 year old Traeton Wilharm.

The incident remains under investigation.

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