Southern California mother accused of cocaine use, child neglect and animal cruelty

Members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department are seen in this undated photo posted on social media. (SBSD)

A 44-year-old woman in San Bernardino County was arrested on child abuse charges just hours after investigators say she left her three young children alone for hours while she smoked cocaine at another location.

The ordeal began on May 31 when San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department officers conducted a welfare check at a short-term rental apartment in Big Bear City, an SBSD news release said.

At the time, officials said the woman, named Marinda Montanez, left her children, including her eight-year-old daughter, alone for about five hours.

“To document the situation, an incident report was prepared and forwarded to the Youth and Family Welfare Office,” the press release states.

On June 1, officers were called to the 44-year-old’s home in the 39,000 block of North Shore Drive in Fawnskin for reports of about 50 neglected dogs left in cages in the heat and without food.

Montanez told officers that she had taken care of the animals.

Most of the dogs were confiscated by San Bernardino County Animal Control and Montanez was arrested. She was later released on charges of animal cruelty.

Just hours later, investigators were again called to her Fawnskin home after the 44-year-old was accused of neglecting her 8-year-old daughter. The unidentified girl was taken to Big Bear Valley Community Hospital, where she was treated for unspecified wounds and released from care, authorities said.

However, Montanez’s three children were removed from their home and placed with child welfare officials after the 44-year-old left the three children behind on May 31 to smoke cocaine in Victorville, according to detectives.

Authorities did not disclose how they discovered that she had smoked cocaine on that date and at that location.

Montanez was arrested on child abuse and neglect charges and booked into the Big Bear Jail. She is currently being held at the West Valley Detention Center on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on June 4.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact SBSD Detective Casillas at 909-866-0105. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call the WeTip hotline at 800-782-7463 or submit tips online at www.wetip.com.