A Carbon County woman, who left her two young children in a hot and unlocked car, was placed in a special probation program on Thursday in the county court.

Jessica Lynn Billings, 38, of Lehighton, was placed in the county's Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition by Judge Steven R. Serfass.Billings' placement almost didn't happen when Serfass questioned the motion by the district attorney's office to place her in the probation program based on the police report.The incident occurred on Aug. 31, 2015, in the parking of the Rite Aid pharmacy in Lehighton. At least two people who pulled into the lot observed two young children in a vehicle with all the windows up except one, which was slightly open, and the vehicle unlocked. Police were called to the scene and found a 1- and 4-year-old in the car, sweating.Billings was found in the pharmacy. She was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and other related counts.Serfass said he was hesitant to place Billings in the program considering the facts of the incident. He said after consulting with defense attorney Paul Levy, of the public defenders office, and Assistant District Attorney Seth E. Miller, who prosecuted the case, he agreed to the ARD placement.Serfass said, "This is troubling on a number of levels. Children, hot and in an unlocked vehicle."He said after seeing documentation from Levy that Billings entered a counseling program after the incident and is currently taking parenting classes he agreed to let her into the program.She was placed for two years and assessed $450 for the cost of the program, render 100 hours of community service and continue and successfully complete the parenting classes.