A Valencia woman whose 6-year-old girl was found alone, late at night, running near a major intersection in August pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor, according to Santa Clarita Courthouse records.
Michelle Negrellos pleaded with the approval of the court to “child endangerment,” which is defined by state law “as willfully exposing a child (under 18) to unjustifiable pain, mental suffering, or dangerous conditions.”
Negrellos was arrested the evening her daughter went missing after a good Samaritan contacted staton officials to report the young girl, who has special needs, was near the intersection of Magic Mountain and McBean parkways around 10 p.m.
The little girl had an iPad with her, which deputies were able to use to find her home address where Negrellos was located, allegedly asleep and intoxicated, according to Sgt. Robert Jensen, who was then spokesman for the SCV Sheriff’s Station.
Negrellos did not have any criminal record at the time of the incident, which a prosecutor not tied to the case said could have played a factor in the reduced charge.
Judge Gary Micon passed down his sentence at a January plea hearing. Negrellos received summary probation for three years, which is considered informal probation, if the following conditions are met: she may not own weapons; threaten violence, or annoy any witnesses in the case; obay any protective orders; threaten or discipline her child with violence; abstain from the use of alcohol; submit to a search upon a peace officer’s demand; pay several hundred dollars in fines; enroll in and complete a 52-week parenting course; eight hours of community service; continue to attend a 12-step program; and stay under electronic monitoring for three additional months from the sentencing date.
Negrellos presented evidence of enrollment and attendance in the parenting classes and recovery meetings at her hearing, which Micon previously put on the record.
