Cocaine-smoking mother in Southern California arrested on child and animal abuse charges

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

A 44-year-old San Bernardino County woman cited for animal cruelty was arrested for child abuse hours later after investigators learned she left her three young children alone for hours for that she was smoking cocaine in another location.

The ordeal began May 31 when deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department conducted a welfare check at a short-term rental in Big Bear City, an SBSD news release states.

At that time, officers noticed that the woman, identified as Marinda Montanez, had left her children, including her 8-year-old daughter, alone for approximately five hours.

“An incident report was completed to document the situation and forwarded to Child and Family Services,” the statement said.

On June 1, officers were called to the 44-year-old man's home, located in the 39000 block of North Shore Drive in Fawnskin, following reports of approximately 50 neglected dogs left in cages in heat and without food.

Montanez told deputies she was the caretaker of the animals.

Most of the dogs were confiscated by San Bernardino County Animal Control and Montanez was arrested. She was later released following a citation for animal cruelty.

Hours later, investigators were called back to her home in Fawnskin after allegations the 44-year-old woman was neglecting her 8-year-old daughter. The unidentified girl was taken to Big Bear Valley Community Hospital where she was treated for unspecified injuries and released from care, authorities said.

However, Montanez's three children were later removed from his home and placed in Child and Family Services after detectives learned the 44-year-old had left the three children on May 31 to smoke cocaine in Victorville.

Authorities have not revealed how they learned she was smoking cocaine on that date and location.

Montanez was arrested for child abuse and neglect and booked into Big Bear Prison. 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 who wish to remain anonymous can call the WeTip hotline at 800-782-7463 or leave tips online at www.wetip.com.