A mother charged with misdemeanor child abuse after her toddler fell out of a moving SUV in Fullerton pleaded not guilty Thursday at her arraignment in Orange County.
Jacqueline Marie Hernandez, 35, pleaded not guilty and was ordered to return for a May 1 court appearance. A protective order that required her to stay 5 yards away from the child was modified to allow for supervised interactions. She is not allowed to drive a car with the child inside.
It was not immediately clear whether Hernandez has an attorney who could speak on her behalf.
Video captured the series of events Jan. 20 at the intersection of N. Euclid Street and W. Malvern Avenue between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. A child was seen falling onto the road from the passenger side of a black SUV as the driver made a left turn, the Fullerton Police Department said.
The vehicle immediately stopped, a woman exited from the driver’s door and picked up the child from the ground, the video showed.
The video was widely circulated social media, and a witness reached out to the Fullerton Police Department, describing the vehicle. The department said no reports were made immediately to the agency.
Investigators learned the vehicle belonged to Hernandez, of La Habra. She was arrested on suspicion of felony child abuse.
The 19-month-old toddler was taken to a hospital and expected to make full recovery.
Anyone with further information was urged to contact Fullerton police at 714-738-6782.
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