JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Authorities allege a woman duct-taped her 3-year-old and 4-year-old sons together and left them alone while she went to work.

Agla Vincent, 25, was charged with child abuse after a seven-month investigation.

Police said the incident took place while the family was living on base at the Naval Air Station-Jacksonville in March.

Vincent was a naval officer at the time at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station. A spokesman said she completed her service and was discharged in August.

Police reports state a witness heard the children screaming and crying inside Vincent's home , and six hours later returned to the house and found a toddler in a soaked diaper with duct tape on his leg.

"The parent was not able to be located. They (the witness) put the child in the unlocked apartment and notified the military police," said Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Lt. Annie Smith.

Investigators said that 48 minutes later, when military police arrived and entered the home, they found the children duct taped to each other around the lower legs as they lay crying on their bed. They were in a bedroom with feces and cereal scattered on play mats on the floor, police said.

The officer who came to investigate said once he found the children, Vincent came running into the room, jumped on the bed and ripped the duct off with her teeth.

Vincent was arrested and her two children were placed in custody of the state.

The military took over the investigation. Vincent posted bond and was let out of jail.

Although she was initially arrested by military police, seven months later, Vincent is in the Duval County Jail as a civilian.

"Miss Vincent recently ended her military commitment, and that's when Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and the State Attorney's Office took over jurisdiction of the case," Smith said.

Vincent posted $5,000 bond on Tuesday evening and was released from jail.

Vincent has denied leaving her sons home alone.