Lodi couple indicted on charges of child abuse

Two Lodi residents were indicted for child abuse Wednesday after their 5-month-old son suffered injuries that required him to be taken by a Life Flight helicopter to Oakland Children's Hospital. The couple are being held on $200,000 bail.

Yuribel Mendoza Hernandez, 22, and Jose Isaier Perez, 24, took their son to the Ham Lane Urgent Care Clinic on July 8 and said their child had fallen out of a baby swing, according to Detective Eric Bradley, of the Lodi Police Department

The couple lives in the 400 block of East Oak Street. The couple is not married and has been together for a little more than two years, Bradley said.

The staff thought the infant may have contracted meningitis, because he couldn't move his neck, so they transferred him to Lodi Memorial Hospital. The Lodi Memorial Hospital staff re-examined the child and determined the child may have been a victim of physical abuse.

He was transferred to Oakland Children's Hospital on July 10 after Lodi Memorial Hospital staff determined he may have life-threatening head injuries. It was at Oakland Children's Hospital that staff learned that the child had sustained a fractured rib and femur, as well as a skull fracture and retinal hemorrhaging.

The child and his 2-year-old sister are in protective custody with Child Protective Services. Bradley said Hernandez and Perez have no prior convictions in California, and that the boy's sister does not have any injuries that indicate she was a victim of abuse. Perez and Hernandez are the biological parents of the 2-year-old girl as well.

Lodi Police Detectives took their findings to the San Joaquin County District Attorney's office. The DA's Office convened a Grand Jury on Monday that concluded with an indictment for Perez and Hernandez on Wednesday.

Hernandez and Perez are each facing three total counts of infliction of bodily injury, child endangerment and corporal injury to a child. They will be arraigned today at the Stockton Courthouse.

Bradley said the child has been released from the hospital and is in protective custody. He said it is unclear if the child will suffer long-term damage from his injuries. Bradley said he would not speculate as to the nature of how the child was injured. No illegal weapons were found on the couple's property during a search.

Contact reporter Jordan Guinn at jordang@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

galt mom wrote on Oct 3, 2009 12:00 AM:

" correction on my last post, I meant to say that I would lie if I said I knew what they were doing a who they were with all the time. "

Report Abuse

galt mom wrote on Oct 2, 2009 11:59 PM:

" to wtf: I would be telling a lie if I said I know what my kids are doing and where they are, I understand your point, but when my children were small, I NEVER left the toddlers, with my infant. Look it's plain and simple with the hemorage of the eyes, it is a sign of shaken baby syndrom. everyone is granted their own opionion, I have mine and untill proven different I beleive they hurt this little boy. If I am wrong I will apologize, but like I said I beleive they did this. "

Report Abuse

ordinarycitizen wrote on Oct 2, 2009 11:58 PM:

" I pray that this little precious will not sustain any long term injuries and will grow up to lead a normal functioning life with no brain damage whatsoever, and no eyesight damage. This little precious needs to grow up having a chance in life, because he is the innocent little victim, and not have any type of long term brain injuries because of neglect or worse, abuse. People need to see and understand that their children are the most precious gifts of all, and they are not to be treated in such a way as to possibly damage their entire lives due to abuse - abuse of any kind. How sad. "

Report Abuse

ordinarycitizen wrote on Oct 2, 2009 11:55 PM:

" This is a sickening article - regardless of how the baby, a 5 month old precious little baby, received his injuries, it could only be one of two things: child abuse or child neglect that lead to child endangerment. Let's say WTF's theory is correct. It would be totally irresponsible for a parent to leave their 5 month old unattended for any reason, especially with a 2 yr old present. I have a 2 1/2 yr old grandson and you can't take your eyes off of him for one minute, because if you do, trouble can surely follow. CPS is wise to take these two children away in order to protect their lives, and to do a thorough investigation. If, per chance, this couple is totally innocent and something foolish happened as a high chair fell over, or the baby fell out of its swing, then these parents should attend parenting safety classes to learn how to better care for their children. But it if's abuse, which to me sounds like shaken baby syndrome, then they should do their time and then have strict supervised visits, take parenting classes and substance abuse classes if warrented to see their children again. "

Report Abuse

wtf wrote on Oct 2, 2009 2:36 PM:

" I just hope you posters are never at the tender mercies of the CPS. Please note: They have a tendency to "pad" their write ups and refuse to change errors when pointed out.

Haven't you seen the news? Lately, there's been much more abuse when children are in the CPS' "care" and in foster homes.

Unless, of course, you are "foster" parents; read: way overpaid welfare recipients. "

Report Abuse

pooreastside wrote on Oct 2, 2009 1:26 PM:

" Fractured rib and femur, skull fracture, and retinal hemorrhaging all from falling out of a baby swing. God, these things should be banned for sure, they are killing our kids and making it look like child abuse. (WTF, note the sarcasm).
Don't let these parents see the light of day, please. "

Report Abuse

wtf wrote on Oct 2, 2009 12:17 PM:

" galtmom and lodireader, yes, I do know what I wrote. The fact is, NO ONE knows what really happened. Regarding the possible scenario of the two year old doing this to the baby; since you list yourself as "galtmom" I'll address you: So you know **exactly** what your children are doing every single second?

Wow! That's incredible! (please note sarcasm)

Think politics for a while people. The agencies that are on the cutting block are "all of a sudden" finding things to show "how useful" they are. It's not about protecting children, people, society, or any of that...it's about job security with these people. "

Report Abuse

galt mom wrote on Oct 2, 2009 11:52 AM:

" in responce to wtf: I would not be stupid enough to let my 2 year old push over a walker, high chair, etc. and I agree with the fact cps is wrong sometimes but in this case they are guilty she has shaken baby syndrom, I agree with lodi reader from stockton. they are guilty and unless the hospital disproves what urgent care, and lodi memeorical beleive then I will beleive they are guilty till proven otherwise. "

Report Abuse

LodiReaderFromStockton wrote on Oct 2, 2009 10:37 AM:

" Ok so the 2 year old broke the baby's leg and rib and gave him a skull fracture and retinal hemoraging? Are you reading what you said? OMG... While I'm not saying CPS can't do questionable things it sounds to me like they abused this little baby. Sounds like shaken baby syndrome to me. If they are guilty I hope they never see either one of their kids again. And I hope the baby doesn't suffer permanent damage and thankfully he's too young to know what his parents did to him. "

Report Abuse

PAL wrote on Oct 2, 2009 8:54 AM:

" I have to agree with wtf. I know a family that absolutely adored their daughter and treated her wonderfully. She was in her walker and somehow the walker tipped over and she got some bruises on her head. They rushed her to the hospital and the doctors decided that she was abused. This child was loved and well taken care of. It took the family almost a year to get her back. They put her in foster care during that time and her parents only got to see her once a month. This was a upper middle class family who were in their 30s when they had this child. CPS does good but every bruise is not a child being beaten. "

Report Abuse

wtf wrote on Oct 2, 2009 8:48 AM:

" CPS strikes again with trumped up charges. To you other posters: I hope you're never "tried in the court of public opinion" and found guilty before all the facts are in.

If the two year old had decided to give her little brother a swing ride and neglected to secure him; then pushed the swing too hard, the baby could have fallen out of the swing.

The injuries described in the article appear to be consistent with a scenario like that. CPS is, once again, stealing children from people whose only **real** crime is that they're poor.

They don't care about destroying people's lives or reputations, and if it turns out that the injuries were due to a fall, chances are that WON'T be reported....only the accusations. "

Report Abuse

Journey wrote on Oct 2, 2009 7:55 AM:

" And don't forget to sterilize BOTH of them before incarceration! "

Report Abuse

galt mom wrote on Oct 2, 2009 6:44 AM:

" All I can say is put them in the general population of the jail and let the others take care of them. My prayers are with this little angel. "

Report Abuse

Comments on this story are now closed.