ONEIDA — The parents of a 2-year-old child have been charged after the boy was found wandering in his pajamas in a nearby shopping center parking lot.

William, 21, and Rikki Sochia, 22, of North Main Street, were in their garage when their 2-year-old son wandered out of their home at about 7 p.m. Thursday, according to Police Chief David R. Meeker.

"They thought somebody else was watching the child," Meeker said.

The little boy wandered next door to the North Side Shopping Center and was found walking in the parking lot by a passerby, police said. Authorities do not know how long the boy was walking on his own before he was found.

The boy was wearing only his pajamas.

Police said the passerby called 9-1-1 and stayed with the boy until officers arrived. They then found the two parents, who had started looking for their son.

Meeker said he did not know if anyone had been in the house watching the boy, but he was the parents’ responsibility.

The Sochias have both been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, police said. They are scheduled to appear in City Court on April 27.