A Sheboygan man is pleading not guilty to charges after being accused of taking his young sons out in the middle of the night in freezing temperatures without adequate clothing.

Robert Pierce is charged with reckless endangerment and child neglect.

A criminal complaint says he took his 3 and 5-year-old sons to visit his girlfriend at a convenience store last month after power went out at his house.

A police officer saw him walking with the boys, who were wearing footed pajamas and had one boot between them. One child had an unzipped coat. The other was wearing a flannel shirt. The temperature was six.

The complaint says Pierce's blood alcohol level was more than double the legal limit.

A jury trial is scheduled May 8th.