A Schuylkill County man accused of leaving his newborn, a 1-year old, and a toddler who was locked in a makeshift wooden cage, home alone last month will skip a preliminary hearing and head straight to court.

Cecil E. Kutz, 38, of North Mannheim Township, faces three counts each of endangering the welfare of children and reckless endangerment.He remains in the county jail under $250,000 straight cash bail.On Wednesday, Kutz waived his right to a preliminary hearing which had been scheduled for June 27 before District Judge James R. Ferrier of Orwigsburg, according to county judicial records.Police say Kutz left the children alone in a hot, dirty house while he visited his girlfriend in the hospital where she was being treated for complications after giving birth at home.According to state police at Schuylkill Haven, Kutz had called an ambulance at 9:30 a.m. May 17 after his girlfriend, Tiffany George, 25, began bleeding heavily after having given birth at home the night before.George, who has since been arrested on drug-related charges, told hospital staff her newborn was at home.When police went to the home, they found the toddler in the locked plywood and lattice cage, and the newborn in a car seat.The children, who had been alone for at least 40 minutes, were placed in the care of Schuylkill County Children & Youth Services.