Latest news with #KernCountySuperiorCourt
Vancouver Sun
14-07-2025
- Vancouver Sun
California mom charged after one-year-old dies from being left in hot car while she got lip injections
A California mother has been charged with manslaughter and child cruelty after her infant son died from allegedly being left inside a car on a 100-plus degree day while she was getting lip filler injections at a medical spa in late June. The Bakersfield Police Department alleges that Maya Hernanendez, 20, knew when she walked away from her vehicle that leaving one-year-old Amillio Guiterrez and his two-year-old brother was 'irresponsible,' according to documents filed in Kern County Superior Court and obtained by National Post. 'But she intentionally left them in the vehicle regardless, placing the value of her appearance over the value of the safety and well-being of her children,' Det. Kyle McNabb wrote in his report. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The name of the surviving child has not been released by authorities or relatives. According to police, Hernandez had contacted the spa earlier on June 29 to ask if her children could accompany her and was told they could, so long as they stayed in the waiting room of the medical facility. A spa nurse allegedly later told police they were not aware that the children were waiting in the vehicle. Figuring her appointment could go long, police say Hernandez told them that upon arriving around 2 p.m., she decided to leave the boys strapped into their car seats, with snacks and milk, inside the running car with the air conditioning on while they watched shows on her phone. '(Hernandez) stated she was certain that her car would stay on with the air conditioning running the whole time she was gone, because she had been in her car for extended periods of time before and had even slept in her car,' McNabb wrote. However, police later learned that her vehicle, a 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid, automatically shuts off after one hour if left in park. Hernandez said she returned to her vehicle at approximately 4:30 p.m. and found Amillio red in the face and then appearing to suffer a seizure with 'foaming at the mouth and shaking.' The other boy was faring better, but his hair was still 'soaking wet' with sweat. She sought assistance from spa staff and called 911. Paramedics told police that Amillio was unconscious and not breathing upon their arrival. Both were transported to hospital where staff worked on Amillio for 40 minutes before pronouncing him dead. A doctor interviewed by police said the infant's body temperature was recorded at 107.2 degrees. According to historical weather data , the peak temperature at that time of day was 101 Fahrenheit (38 Celsius). In his report, McNabb noted that the internal temperature of a car can climb to 143°F (62°C) in just one hour of 100-degree weather. Police estimate that the boys were left in the scorching hot car for at least 90 minutes. Amillio's brother, whose body temperature was registered at 99 degrees, had normal vital signs and has since recovered from the ordeal. Police were informed that kids two and older can sweat to cool themselves down, whereas most infants can't. 'Based on the totality of the evidence at this time it is clear that Maya Hernandez's actions caused the death of Amillio Gutierrez,' McNabb wrote. Hernandez, who has pleaded not guilty to one charge of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of child cruelty, is being held on $1 million bail. She appeared in court briefly last Friday and is due to return Tuesday, according to ABC in Bakersfield. Speaking with a reporter outside court, spa patron and witness Ian Blue said he told emergency responders he saw no signs that the air conditioning was running when he walked past Hernandez's car. Katie Martinez, the patriarchal grandmother of the deceased boy, said Hernandez is 'a really loving mom' and struggled to understand the tragedy. 'They were strapped in their car seats. They couldn't even get up to save themselves,' she told another ABC outlet. 'She literally locked them in their car seats and shut their doors.' Her son, the boys' father, is currently serving time for unrelated charges and learned of his one-year-old's death the following day. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
NDTV
09-07-2025
- NDTV
Baby Dies In US After Mother Leaves Him In Hot Car To Get Lip Filler
A baby died after his mother left him inside a car on a hot day to get a lip filler at a medical spa in Bakersfield, California, authorities said. The tragic incident happened on June 29. She left her two children, a one-year-old boy and a two-year-old boy, in the car. The 20-year-old Maya Hernandez has pleaded not guilty. Hernandez has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and two counts of child cruelty. According to police, Hernandez admitted to knowing her actions were irresponsible. As per a report filed in Kern County Superior Court, Bakersfield Police slammed Hernandez for "placing the value of her appearance over the safety and well-being of her children". The Court documents mentioned that Hernandez left the vehicle running with the air conditioning on. But as per a car dealership, the vehicle can turn off after about an hour of inactivity. The children were left without air conditioning for approximately 90 minutes. When she came back from the spa, she found the baby foaming at the mouth, and he was also having a seizure. She called the emergency services, and both were rushed to a hospital for treatment. The one-year-old had no pulse and was not breathing. His lips were blue. His internal body temperature was 107.2 degrees, according to the police report. The one-year-old was pronounced dead at a hospital. Meanwhile, the two-year-old was placed in protective custody after getting treatment at the hospital. Hernandez had previously asked the spa if she could bring her children inside, and the staff replied, "Sure if you don't mind them waiting in the waiting room." She told police that she left them in the car as she had no idea about the length of time it would take for her procedure. She is being held on more than $1 million bail and is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing. The incident has sparked outrage, with many criticising Hernandez's decision to prioritise her cosmetic procedure over her children's well-being. A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the family.
Los Angeles Times
09-07-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Baby dies after California mom leaves him in car to get lip filler on 101-degree day, police say
A baby died after his mother left him and his 2-year-old sibling inside a car while she was getting lip filler at a Bakersfield medical spa on a 101-degree day, authorities said. Bakersfield Police criticized Maya Hernandez for 'placing the value of her appearance over the safety and well-being of her children' in a report filed in Kern County Superior Court. It is estimated that Hernandez's children were in the vehicle without air-conditioning for 90 minutes, wrote Det. Kyle McNabb, noting that the internal temperature of a car can rise to a blistering 143 degrees in just one hour of 100-degree weather. Hernandez told police she found her baby foaming at the mouth and having an apparent seizure after emerging from her procedure at Always Beautiful Medical Spa, according to the police report. She frantically dialed 911, and both her children were transported to a hospital for treatment. By the time her 1-year-old arrived at Adventist Health hospital, he wasn't breathing, had no pulse, his blue lips were blue, and he had an internal body temperature of 107.2 degrees, according to the police report. He was pronounced dead around an hour after the 911 call and identified as Amillio Gutierrez by the Kern County coroner's office. Hernandez's 2-year-old child recovered from the ordeal and has since been placed in protective custody, according to the police report. Now the 20-year-old mother has been charged with one felony count of involuntary manslaughter and two felony counts of willful cruelty to a child, according to court records. The tragedy unfolded on June 29 in a parking lot at 31 S. Real Road in Bakersfield. Hernandez told police she left her children in the car with the engine on and the air conditioning running at around 2 p.m. She said she was certain the air conditioning would remain on the entire time she was in the medical spa as she had been in her car for extended periods of time before. However, her 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid is equipped with an automatic feature that turns the engine off if it has been left running for one hour while in park, police said. Police estimate that the engine turned off around 3 p.m. and the children were left without air conditioning until Hernandez returned around 4:30 p.m. Earlier in the day, Hernandez had texted the nurse performing her treatment to ask whether she could bring her children, to which the nurse responded, 'Sure if you don't mind them waiting in the waiting room,' according to the police report. But Hernandez told police she chose to leave them in the car because she was concerned about the length of time it would take for her procedure, according to the report. Hernandez called 911 at 4:41 p.m. after discovering her baby red in the face in the car. When police arrived, they found Hernandez and her two children in the car. The AC was running, but the interior air temperature still felt warm, according to the police report. 'Hernandez admitted that she knew her actions were irresponsible and that she considered that when she was getting out of the car, but she left them in the vehicle regardless,' wrote McNabb. 'It is commonly known that leaving a one-year-old and two-year-old unattended in a vehicle in extreme weather is dangerous and can result in death.' Hernandez's 2-year-old was admitted to Adventist Health hospital with a 99-degree temperature and was able to eat and drink fluids after the initial health assessment. The hospital nurse told police that children 2 and older are better able to regulate internal body temperature than babies, who do not have fully developed sweat glands, according to the police report. Hernandez was reported to Child Protective Services for alleged emotional abuse of one of her children last March, but that report was deemed unfounded, police said.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Our View: Kern judge's water case ruling does not show bias
It's easy to get lost in the technical weeds of a lawsuit, especially over water rights. These cases are complicated and confusing. The only people paying close attention are lawyers, water rights owners, environmentalists and that lonely news reporter who finds writing about water interesting. People fighting over whether Kern River water should flow through Bakersfield are fortunate to have Kern County Superior Court Judge Gregory Pulskamp presiding over a 2022 lawsuit that pits community activists and environmentalists against agricultural water agencies and the city of Bakersfield. Since becoming a superior court judge in 2018, Pulskamp hasn't shied away from complicated and controversial cases. The Kern River case is no exception. During a hearing, Pulskamp noted that 'it's a very significant case to the community. There is a lot of tension in this case and a lot of strong feelings, but I appreciate the professionalism and civility that's been exhibited, so far.' Maybe Pulskamp needs to rethink that civility thing, since the powerful Kern County Water Agency, one of several ag districts that have interests in the case, tried to get the Kern court's presiding judge to boot him off the case. But in a ruling Tuesday, the assistant presiding judge refused to remove Pulskamp. Pulskamp's sin, according to those who wanted him removed? He ordered Bakersfield, which controls the river's diversion structures through the city, to temporarily continue the water's flow to keep fish from dying, while the lawsuit proceeds. The water agency and ag districts appealed Pulskamp's order to the 5th District Court of Appeal, which overruled Pulskamp earlier this year, questioning whether the flow demand is reasonable and how much water is needed to sustain fish. Bring Back the Kern, Kern River Parkway Foundation, Water Audit California, Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity and Audubon Society now want the state Supreme Court to review the appeal court's ruling. California Attorney General Rob Bonta and state agencies are siding with the groups. Practically from the time Kern County was settled, the river has been diverted to create our booming agriculture industry. Canals still used today were dug and flowing as early as the 1870s. When the city bought a share of the river in 1977, it also got the riverbed and most of headgates and weirs serving those canals, as well as the responsibility to operate the canals under existing decrees, contracts and agreements. The diversions in those layers of mandates — collectively known as the "Law of the River" — have left the riverbed through Bakersfield dry in all but the wettest years. In the 1990s, community activists — notably Rich O'Neill and Bill Cooper — pressed for the river's return and construction of improvements, such as the Kern River Parkway. However, continuous flow of water into the riverbed remained iffy. In 2022, community activists sued the city and ag water districts to stabilize flow. Then along came the rains of 2023. The river came back. So did the fish. Once the river filled with the epic runoff and fish reappeared, plaintiffs in the 2022 lawsuit obtained Pulskamp's emergency temporary injunction to keep the flow running. The injunction was based on state law that requires dam owners/operators to keep downstream fish populations healthy. Pulskamp's temporary order required Bakersfield to keep sufficient water in the city's stretch of the river to sustain the fish until the 2022 lawsuit is settled. A trial is scheduled in December. This editorial is not meant to take sides on the lawsuit. Rather, it is to point out that Pulskamp's order to temporarily keep water flowing to sustain fish was reasonable under his reading of state law. The appeal court overturning Pulskamp's order is no indication that he is biased against ag water users, as the water agency claims. But any time you have limited water and many people wanting it, you'll get a fight over what is 'reasonable' and who has the 'right' to use it. For about three years now, Pulskamp has submerged himself in the details of this case — issuing orders on numerous motions — some favoring river flow proponents; others favoring ag users. His single temporary injunction order does not demonstrate bias, or support the changing of a judicial horse in the middle this complex legal race.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kern County is in compliance with Free Speech Policy as part of agreement with Attorney General Bonta: report
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The first annual report assessing Kern County's progress in implementing and complying with the Free Speech Policy — a countywide policy approved by the California Department of Justice — says the county has been 'substantially' following the policy so far. On April 11, a notice of filing of the first annual report was posted on the Kern County Superior Court website. The annual report, filed by designated Free Speech Retained Expert Barry McDonald, found the county 'was in substantial compliance with its obligations' under the stipulated judgment for the initial oversight period from Dec. 8, 2023 to Dec. 7, 2024. RELATED: DOJ enters stipulated judgment with Kern County One complaint was filed under the Free Speech Policy during this period but, ultimately, no violation of the county's Free Speech Policy was established, according to the report. Erin Briscoe-Clark, the chief communications officer for the Kern County Administrative Office, told 17 News the complaints cannot be shared with the public as they are confidential personnel documents. In September 2021, the California Department of Justice began investigating Kern County to determine whether the Supervisors violated the free speech rights of a coalition of community-driven organizations as well as a small business. According to the claim filed in the Kern County Superior Court, several supervisors who were on the board at the time refused to approve the contracts due to the contractors reportedly expressing support for the defunding of law enforcement agencies. The contracts aimed to assist the county with its public health response to COVID-19 in 2020. 'I think that that is a radical political agenda that gives me great pause in awarding a contract with an organization that took on that cause,' one supervisor said. 'This is Kern County. We're not Seattle. This is where we support law enforcement, and we want more resources to go to law enforcement.' Mother of Ricardo Aguilar seeks over $3 million in claim filed against county Investigators determined the county violated the rights of local organizations, the DOJ entered into an agreement with Kern County. The agreement required the county to: Adopt and disseminate a countywide Free Speech Policy Designate a county complaint coordinator Develop and provide annual training to members of the Board of Supervisors and other county personnel The policy was designed to prevent the county of Kern from discriminating against county employees, potential employees and contractors for exercising their free speech rights. The policy states the county employees are also prohibited from unlawfully discriminating against, harassing or retaliating against other employees, potential employees and contractors for free speech or filing a complaint under this policy. The agreement also enlisted a free speech retained expert who is in charge of assessing the county's compliance with the Free Speech Policy and submitting three annual reports during the oversight period to Attorney General Rob Bonta and the county. Never miss a story: Make your homepage The agenda for the Kern County Board of Supervisors meeting scheduled for Tuesday said the board would discuss the case with the Office of County Counsel in a closed session. County Counsel Margo Raison told 17 News the exact contents of the closed session cannot be disclosed, only saying the counsel will be updating the board regarding the status of the agreement. Raison said the county is currently in the second year into the agreement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
