Department of Children and Families

Published on: July 7, 2018

Developmentally Disabled Child Abandoned by Mom at Union Station

A 7-year-old boy was found by himself at Union Station on the 4^th of July after his mother allegedly abandoned him for nearly 24 hours. The child was not verbally responsive when the authorities tried to talk with him which led them to believe he might be deaf or have a developmental disability.

Employees at Union Station reported that they saw a woman and the child sitting together while having a meal, and the boy came into the kitchen area of the café unattended. When they searched for the woman that was with him, who was later suspected to be his mother, they were not able to locate her so they alerted the authorities.

The boy was believed to have a developmental or medical problem because he was not verbally expressive when the officers tried to ask him questions about why he was alone, and the Los Angeles Police Department Transit Services Division released the youngster into the custody of the LA County Department of Children and Family Services. Members of the child’s family were located the following day and they are now providing care for him in his mother’s absence.

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Published on: January 31, 2018

Man Fighting Allegations That He Put Toddler in Heated Oven

by Staycie R. Sena

A man who was being sought by the authorities for allegedly abusing his ex-girlfriend’s 3-year-old child by hitting her with a belt and sticking her in the oven turned himself on Thursday, and he is vehemently fighting the accusations against him.

45-year-old Terry Lee May, a father of five, had been taking care of his ex-girlfriend’s toddler for a few weeks after the woman left him to look after the young girl. When the child’s mother returned to pick her up she claimed she had discovered marks on her body.

The mother notified the authorities and the Department of Children and Families in order to report her daughter’s injuries. The child reportedly suffered burns to her ears and ankles, and what was assessed as belt markings on other parts of her body. It was concluded that the child had been beaten and then placed inside of an oven while she was in May’s care. The child told the officials that May had struck her with a belt more than once.

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Published on: December 15, 2017

Man Accused of Human Trafficking and Selling Underage Girl for Sex

by Staycie R. Sena

After a year-long investigation police have arrested a man for allegedly selling sexual acts from a teenage girl who was smuggled into the United States from a country that has not yet been determined.

A young girl was brought to America when her sister made arrangements with a coyote who agreed to smuggle her into the country illegally. Though immigration detained the girl for 50 days she was eventually released into the custody of her sister. Her sister was then reported to have pressured the teenager into having sex with her fiancé to assist with her living expenses.

The woman’s fiancé, 47-year-old Juan Perada, a legal citizen of El Salvador residing in Deltona, Florida, has been accused of taking the young girl to his home and having sex with her. He also was said to have paid her between $200 and $600 for having sexual relations with himself and various other men.

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