Collette Wieland reporting

A local couple faces child endangerment charges after police say they left their children in a parked car as they gambled at a Las Vegas casino.

Police found an 11-year-old and a one-year-old alone in the Tuscany Suites and Casino parking lot while their parents were inside the casino playing the slot macines.

35-year-old Brian Paynter and 36-year-old Shaung Chen were arrested Saturday afternoon after security guards found their young children by themselves in their car.

Police say the kids were alone for at least a half-hour. Extreme temperatures were not a factor over the weekend, but it is still a crime in the state of Nevada to leave your children in a car unattended.

Metro officers say it's dangerous no matter how long your child is left alone because anything can happen: your child could wander off or your car could be stolen with the kids inside.

The state of Nevada says leaving a child in a situation where physical or mental harm can take place is child endangerment.

If convicted of the crime, Paynter and Chen could face anywhere between two and 12 years in prison. If they have any prior offenses, their sentences could be much higher.

Over the weekend, the two children were taken into the custody of Child Protective Services.