Sheena Johnson arraigned in Ewing Municipal Court 4/22/2013

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(Gallery by Martin Griff / The Times)

EWING – Authorities are searching for the father of 5-year-old and 10-year-old boys whose mother has been charged with child endangerment for allegedly leaving them in a small locker at a Ewing self-storage facility, police said today.

So far, however, police have not had any success finding the father of 27-year-old Sheena Johnson’s children, Ewing Sgt. John Stemler said.

Johnson’s sons remain in the care of the state Department of Children and Families. They had lived with their mother inside the roughly 5 foot by 10 foot storage space for “a month or more,” Stemler said.

Police discovered the children after Johnson was arrested in Trenton Thursday morning for slashing the tires of her boyfriend’s car. That boyfriend, whom city police said has a restraining order against Johnson, is not the father of the children, Stemler said.

Photos: Authorities investigate child endangerment at Ewing self-storage facility 22 Gallery: Photos: Authorities investigate child endangerment at Ewing self-storage facility

Ewing police, state social workers, and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office interviewed the boys Thursday afternoon and spoke with Johnson Thursday evening, when she was charged with two second-degree counts of child endangerment.

Police today would not release whether Johnson gave any reason why she and her children were living inside Extra Space Storage on Prospect Street. They would also not say whether or not Johnson’s children were enrolled in school.

Johnson has not been given a psychological evaluation, but may receive one if the prosecutor’s office asks for it, Stemler said. She allegedly admitted the boys were in the storage locker after being asked by a Trenton police officer about her dependents. The police officer went to Extra Space Storage and discovered the children inside the unlocked storage space filled with a mattress and personal belongings.

Police are still investigating whether the storage center’s staff knew the family was living there, Stemler said.

Johnson appeared Tuesday in Ewing municipal court, where she was formally charged and advised of her rights. She did not have an attorney and was not asked for a plea.

Judge Roger T. Haley said Johnson will appear May 6 in Trenton for a hearing about the diversionary Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) program that may allow her to not serve any jail time if she meets certain conditions.The hearing next month will determine whether Johnson is eligible for the program, which is mostly for first-time offenders and those accused of non-violent crimes.

Following Tuesday’s court appearance, Johnson remains in the Mercer County Corrections Center, where she has been since late Friday, on $75,000 cash or bond.

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