StoneMtn Posted January 8, 2006 Report Share Posted January 8, 2006 [color:purple]Gee, at least they made sure someone looked after their dogs... Friday, January 6, 2006 - 12:00 AMCouple face charges for allegedly leaving boys alone on New Year's By Ryan Huff and Kelli Phillips Knight Ridder Newspapers WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Prosecutors filed felony counts of child endangerment Friday against a San Ramon, Calif., father and his wife accused of leaving his two boys home alone while they spent New Year's weekend in Las Vegas. Jacob Calero, 39, and Michelle de la Vega, 32, both sniffled during their brief court appearance, where they appeared in jail jumpsuits. At one point, de la Vega, who glanced several times at her family in the front row of the courtroom, appeared to sob. The couple each face two felony counts of child endangerment after police alerted by the boys' grandmother went to their San Ramon home Saturday night and found Joshua, 10, and his 5-year-old autistic brother, Jason, asleep and alone. If convicted, the defendants could each face up to 12 years in prison, said Jimmy Lee, Contra Costa Sheriff's spokesman. They remain in custody in lieu of $200,000 bail apiece. Superior Court Judge Charles Treat denied defense motions to reduce the bail and ordered the couple back to court Jan. 12 to enter pleas. Deputy District Attorney Jon Yamaguchi argued that the defendants were a flight risk and questioned if they would return to court "given the lack of responsibility they've shown with the children." Defense attorneys said they wanted bail reduced because their clients have no prior criminal records and the children were not harmed. "They've never been in custody — they're scared to death," Calero's attorney, Thomas McKenna, said after the hearing. "(Calero) made a major mistake in judgment and we're cooperating. The boys lost their mother to cancer; they don't want to lose their father." The boys' mother, Maria "Cristina" Calero, died of breast cancer in 2003 at the age of 31. Her mother — the boys' grandmother, Liberata Holden — had been taking care of the children at her Manteca, Calif., home for the past few days. She is trying to gain permanent custody. On Friday, their godmother, Erin Stoker, watched over them. She declined an interview request. At the arraignment, a swarm of local and national media greeted Calero and de la Vega as they were let out of a sheriff's van. They refused to answer reporters' questions. De la Vega's mother and other relatives also declined to speak with the media. Police said the couple departed for Las Vegas on the morning of Dec. 30, leaving the boys with cereal and frozen dinners to eat, and a cell phone number to call in case of emergencies. Meanwhile, the couple arraigned for de la Vega's mother to watch their three dogs — Popo, Pumpkin and Snow White. Copyright © 2005 The Seattle Times Company [color:blue](Note: I assume the writer meant "[color:black]arranged for de la Vega's mother to watch their three dogs " and "© 200[color:black]6".) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazlo Posted January 8, 2006 Report Share Posted January 8, 2006 Ha Ha, the dog's name is Popo. I'm giggling like a school girl.Gee, at least they made sure someone looked after their dogs...The dogs are worth more and cost less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Posted January 8, 2006 Report Share Posted January 8, 2006 Wow, sounds like the grandmother will do anything to get custody.I'm not very autistic, but me and my brother were left alone all the time at those ages and younger. I'm appalled to think that some people think that's wrong.We live in a weird world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afro poppa Posted January 8, 2006 Report Share Posted January 8, 2006 We live in a weird world.Indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoneMtn Posted January 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2006 (edited) Wow, sounds like the grandmother will do anything to get custody.I'm not very autistic, but me and my brother were left alone all the time at those ages and younger. I'm appalled to think that some people think that's wrong.Sorry, Todd, but I think the autistic child is the distinguishing factor here; left in the charge of a ten-year-old. As you may or may not know, "Lassie" used to work with autistic kids, and had to deal with an innumerable list of unbelievable things. A ten-year-old is not equipped for that. Indeed; most adults without specific education are not equipped.Oh, and for the record, I think it's wrong to leave any ten-year-old responsible for a five-year-old. It is only exponentially worse because the younger child was autistic. Edited January 8, 2006 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewRider Posted January 8, 2006 Report Share Posted January 8, 2006 12 years in jail???!? So basically if they raped their children they'd spend less time in jail? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoneMtn Posted January 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2006 Well, presumably "child endangerment" encompasses a broad range of behaviour. Given that the maximum they're facing is twelve years, that would be for the most egregious example of child endangerment. In all likelihood, this wouldn't be the most extreme example, so their sentence would be lower.As far as "raping" children, I don't know California penal law, but I suspect that the maximum sentence for child molestation in California is more than twelve years. It sounds like you know otherwise, though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewRider Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 No, I definitely don't know much but it seems people don't do THAT much time for violoent or sexual crimes. I seriously hope they don't end up spending that much time in prison, what purpose would that REALLY serve.Anyways, it's good that the kids are okay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewRider Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 By the way StoneMtn after having a REALLY shitty weekend your Kristian Wilson quote is the only thing that put a smile on my face today. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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