http://www.caller. com/news/ 2007/oct/ 12/mom-faces- abandonment- charge/
Mom faces abandonment charge
Police make arrest at Robstown [Texas] motel in case of 2-year-old
By Israel Saenz
Originally published 03:46 a.m., October 12, 2007
Updated 03:46 a.m., October 12, 2007
The mother of a 2-year-old who authorities believe was locked in a bathroom for days didn't ask officers about the girl when arrested Thursday, police said.
Adrianna Mendietta, 28, was arrested Thursday morning at a Robstown motel.
Her husband 21-year-old Dionicio Mendietta III, who authorities previously had questioned about her whereabouts, was with her. He was not arrested, but authorities planned to interview him.
Adrianna Mendietta was in the Nueces County Jail on Thursday on a $100,000 bond. She faces charges of abandonment and endangerment of a child, unlawful restraint and injury to a child.
"She hasn't even asked about her child," Lt. Isaac Valencia, supervisor of the Corpus Christi Police Department's Family Violence Bureau, said Thursday afternoon.
Valencia said police believe some family members gave misleading information about Mendietta's location.
He said police had been close on her trail for several days, just missing her a few days before at a Corpus Christi motel.
Adrianna Mendietta also was wanted on a San Patricio County warrant of larceny and theft by check of more than $1,500 and less than $20,000.
Valencia said with the variety of charges against Adrianna Mendietta in Nueces County, it is difficult to say the exact punishment she could face.
Abandonment and endangerment of a child is a second-degree felony. Unlawful restraint is a third-degree felony as is injury to a child.
A second-degree felony is punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of as much as $10,000. A third-degree felony is punishable with by two to 10 years in prison and a fine of as much as $10,000.
The 2-year-old, who turns 3 next month, remained in foster care Thursday. A Child Protective Services case worker reported in an affidavit filed Tuesday that the girl looked dirty and it appeared she hadn't eaten in several days.
A custody hearing is scheduled at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 22 in County Court at Law No. 5, CPS spokesman John Lennan said.
Contact Israel Saenz at 886-376 or saenzi@caller. com