That’s what the article says-—no car, the McDonald’s was close to the interview, so he brought the kids there so as to leave them alone for less than two hours (and probably to be a few minutes away if difficulties developed) rather than leave them at home for more than two hours and to be further away if difficulties developed.
He gets full marks from me for the day. I’m guessing Mom has a job and was working so couldn’t watch the kids.
If I were the judge here, his sentence would be to get a job and work that job supporting his family. Maybe issue a fine for leaving the kids alone but one of the kids was 10. I went out all the time by myself to shops when I was 10.