Ofelia Garcia Ortega, the mother of a 14-year-old girl allegedly impregnated by her own father, has been arrested on new charges in Monterey County, California. The investigation into the death of the infant and the abuse of the minor has led to charges against the mother for her role in facilitating the teenager's exploitation.
The infant, referred to as "Baby Angelita," was discovered deceased with signs of traumatic injury along Struve Road in Monterey County on August 1. Authorities later determined that the 14-year-old victim had been abused and impregnated by her father, Sergio Galvez Perez, who subsequently fled with her after the newborn's discovery. An Amber Alert was issued in early September, leading to the eventual apprehension of both the father and daughter in Janos, Mexico.
Prosecutors have charged Perez with multiple offenses, including a lewd act upon a child with an enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury, incest, and child abuse. The Monterey County District Attorney's office stated that the investigation also examined Garcia Ortega's conduct. Investigators found that Ortega employed the minor in agricultural fields at the age of 13 using falsified documents, permitted her to drive without a license, and allowed her to be absent from school for extended periods.
Garcia Ortega, 36, was arrested on Tuesday afternoon at the Salinas Superior Courthouse. This is not her first arrest in connection with the case; she was previously taken into custody on August 4 on suspicion of child endangerment. She was released on $50,000 bail at that time. The current charges include felony counts of displaying or possessing a forged identification card, a misdemeanor count of permitting a child to suffer or be endangered, and a misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The minor victim is currently in the custody of a Mexican child protection agency. Sergio Galvez Perez was arrested in Mexico and is facing charges in California. Garcia Ortega is being held at the Monterey County Jail on an enhanced bail of $150,000.
