Father accused of putting guns in toy box

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RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 8 (UPI) -- A city worker in Raleigh, N.C., has denied he let local gang members store loaded guns in his children's toy box, authorities said.

"I had no idea. I wouldn't put my children in danger. I wouldn't put my job in danger," Reginald Keith, 39, told a Wake County magistrate Monday.

Keith was arrested and charged with three counts of misdemeanor child abuse for allegedly allowing "known gang members" to congregate at his home and store "loaded and unsecured firearms" in the toy box, police detective D.A. Karlinksi said.

Keith, who has two children younger than 16, said the guns belonged to his nephew, the Raleigh News & Observer reported Tuesday.

Keith, who has no criminal record, told the court he was a city employee but did not say what he did for the city, the News & Observer reported.

He was being held in the county jail in lieu of $3,000 bail under a court order that he have no contact with his children when he is released.