@chriscerney: A mother is in custody tonight after the Monterey County DA charged her following an investigation into the death of a premature infant. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office says detectives arrested 36-year-old Ofelia Garcia Ortega at the Salinas Superior courthouse around 2:45 p.m. on Oct. 6. The DA says the infant, known as Baby Angelita, was found Aug. 1 along a roadway near an agricultural field in north Monterey County. The baby’s mother was 14. Prosecutors say Ortega put her daughter to work in agricultural fields at 13 using falsified documents, let her drive without a license, and let her stay out of school for months. Ortega is charged with two felony counts of displaying or possessing a forged ID card and two misdemeanors: permitting a child to suffer or be endangered, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She is not charged in the infant’s death. The DA says the girl’s father, Sergio Galvez Perez, is charged with sexual assault offenses. Ortega is scheduled for arraignment Oct. 7 at 1:30 p.m. in Department 1. Charges are allegations. Ortega is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Sources: Monterey County District Attorney and Sheriff’s Office press releases, Oct. 6, 2026. Photos: Monterey County Sheriff’s Office. #Salinas #MontereyCounty #MontereyCountyNews #BabyAngelita

Chris Cerney

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Wednesday 07 October 2026 02:47:32 GMT