ELK RIVER — A 33-year-old man was given jail time for routinely leaving his young sons in a filthy home near Princeton.

Michael Gunderson was recently sentenced in Sherburne County after pleading guilty to two counts of felony child neglect. A felony drug possession charge was dismissed.

Gunderson was given credit for time served since being charged last March. He has less than nine months in jail remaining of a one-year sentence, and is allowed to serve that time on work release. A two-year prison term was stayed.

Gunderson also was placed on five years probation.

Authorities say the boys, ages 2 and 3, were found severely malnourished while in Gunderson’s care. Their mother had been working in Utah and returned to find them alone in the home.