GUILTY CA - Gabriel Fernandez, 8, tortured to death, Palmdale, 22 May 2013

[Niner]

Here's a good article on the caseworkers.

An 8-Year-Old Was Brutally Abused for Months. Why Did No One Save Him?

 

[Niner]

Thursday, October 4th:
*Arraignment Hearing (@ 8:30am PT) - CA - Gabriel Fernandez (8) (May 23, 2013) - Child Services personnel – only for Stephanie Rodriguez, charged on one felony count child abuse & falsifying records.
Others charged: Patricia Clement and supervisors Kevin Bloom & Gregory Merritt.
7/16/18 Update: Pretrial Motions hearing scheduled for 8/15 for only Clement & Merritt.
8/15/18 Update: Pretrial Motions hearing re scheduled for 9/13 for all.
9/13/18 Update: A Los Angeles County judge on Thursday denied a motion to dismiss child abuse and other charges against four social workers in the killing of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez, concluding that the Palmdale boy’s death had been “foreseeable.” Judge Lomeli said the social workers had not properly documented the abuse nor the mother’s repeated refusal to attend counseling. The judge said he had reviewed the voluminous case files and noted that the defendants had overruled a scoring system set up to detect danger to children. The defendants demonstrated “an improper regard for human life” and “a lack of vigilance,” Lomeli said.
9/13/18 Update: Rodriguez: Arraignment on 10/4. Bloom: Arraignment on 10/10. Clement & Merritt: Next Pretrial conference on 10/24.
Pearl Fernandez (mom) & Isauro Aguirre were sentenced 6/7/18-Pearl life w/o parole, Isauro received/sentenced with the death penalty.

 

[Niner]

Okay I found a way to search as case # instead of their names & it brings up more information. I noticed the dash #s on case # BA445260 - so searched under that & here's what came up:

Filed at Case Number Defendant ID Defendant Name Jurisdiction
Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center BA445260 03 GREGORY MERRITT Limited Jurisdiction
Central District BA445260 03 GREGORY MERRITT General Jurisdiction

Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center BA445260 01 KEVIN BOM Limited Jurisdiction
Central District BA445260 01 KEVIN BOM General Jurisdiction

Central District BA445260 04 PATRICIA CLEMENT General Jurisdiction
Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center BA445260 04 PATRICIA CLEMENT Limited Jurisdiction

Central District BA445260 02 STEFANIE RODRIGUEZ General Jurisdiction
Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center BA445260 02 STEFANIE RODRIGUEZ Limited Jurisdiction

Wondering why they have Kevin Bom - instead of Bloom.


As they DO have him under a different case #:

Case Number:
LAC8CJ11715-01
Defendant Name: BLOOM, KEVIN BRIAN
Violation Date: March 15, 2018
Filing Date: September 14, 2018
Courthouse: Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center

Upcoming Scheduled Events

Date Time Location Dept/Room Number
October 10, 2018 08:30 AM Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center 048 ARRAIGNMENT

On Bloom/Bom - Bom got arraigned on 4/3/17, so now I am confused! LOL!

 

[Niner]

More researching....

If you noticed their names are on the listing Twice! So, I clicked on each case # listing and it looks like they ALL have a hearing on 10/24/18 according to case #BA445260.

So - not too sure Rodriguez will be in court today under the case# 8DN06174.

 

[Niner]

okay - more research....

On Rodriguez' court hearing today is regarding something to do with Downey Municipal Code 10112 - which is regarding park hours. So after researching that I'll have to look up Bloom/Bom & see what he is being arraigned for on 10/10.

and it looks he did some petty theft.

So - changing everyone to 10/24 as Prelim hearing date.

Sorry for all the posts in a row -

 

[Indy Anna]

Thank you for keeping us updated on the hearings, Niner!

 

[ksprincess]

Here's a good article on the caseworkers.

An 8-Year-Old Was Brutally Abused for Months. Why Did No One Save Him?

Very good article, I spent quite a long time reading it and thinking about it. I spent 6 years working as a DCF social worker and I still cannot comprehend their actions.

 

[Niner]

Yes, it was a long article. Sounds like his teacher sure did want to help him. I feel sorry for her.

 

[ksprincess]

Yes, it was a long article. Sounds like his teacher sure did want to help him. I feel sorry for her.

Yes I'm sure his teacher will be haunted by what happened to Gabriel, I hope she feels some comfort knowing that she tried to help him more than anyone else did and atleast he knew someone cared about him.

 

[Niner]

3 Words Sealed Abused Boy's Fate: 'Close the Case'

(Newser) – "Close the case." A family services caseworker in Los Angeles County named Pat Clement wrote that recommendation on the file of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez in March of 2013 after a home visit. Her supervisor went along, and two months later, Gabriel was dead—the result of brutal beatings and torture by his mother and her boyfriend.
[.....]
Clement and three others now face prison in a rare case: caseworkers being held accountable for failing to stop the fatal abuse of a child.

 

[Niner]

Wednesday, Oct. 24th:
*Pretrial Conference Hearing (@ 8:30am PT) - CA - Gabriel Fernandez (8) (May 23, 2013, Lancaster) - Child Services personnel Patricia Clement, Stephanie Rodriguez, & supervisors Gregory Merritt, Kevin Bloom (Bom) charged (3/20/17) & arraigned (4/3/17) on one felony count child abuse & falsifying records.
7/16/18 & 8/15: Pretrial Motions hearings.
8/15/18 Update: Pretrial Motions hearing re scheduled for 9/13 for all.
9/13/18 Update: A Los Angeles County judge on Thursday denied a motion to dismiss child abuse and other charges against four social workers in the killing of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez, concluding that the Palmdale boy’s death had been “foreseeable.” Judge Lomeli said the social workers had not properly documented the abuse nor the mother’s repeated refusal to attend counseling. The judge said he had reviewed the voluminous case files and noted that the defendants had overruled a scoring system set up to detect danger to children. The defendants demonstrated “an improper regard for human life” and “a lack of vigilance,” Lomeli said.
9/13/18 Update: Next Pretrial conference for all on 10/24.
Pearl Fernandez (mom) & Isauro Aguirre were sentenced 6/7/18-Pearl life w/o parole, Isauro received the death penalty.

 

[Niner]

I thought I posted this already here - but I'm must have been mistaken.

They are all the same date as Merritt:

Date Time Location Dept/Room Number
November 27, 2018 10:00 AM Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center 107 PRETRIAL CONFERENCE


link: Criminal Case Summary - Online Services - LA Court

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, Nov. 27th:
*Pretrial Conference Hearing (@ 10am PT) - CA - Gabriel Fernandez (8) (May 23, 2013, Lancaster) - Child Services personnel Patricia Clement, Stephanie Rodriguez, & supervisors Gregory Merritt, Kevin Bom (Bloom) charged (3/20/17) & arraigned (4/3/17) on one felony count child abuse & falsifying records. $1M bail for each; all posted bail on 4/7/16.
9/13/18 Update: A Los Angeles County judge on Thursday denied a motion to dismiss child abuse and other charges against four social workers in the killing of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez, concluding that the Palmdale boy’s death had been “foreseeable.” Judge Lomeli said the social workers had not properly documented the abuse nor the mother’s repeated refusal to attend counseling. The judge said he had reviewed the voluminous case files and noted that the defendants had overruled a scoring system set up to detect danger to children. The defendants demonstrated “an improper regard for human life” and “a lack of vigilance,” Lomeli said.
9/13/18 Update: Next Pretrial conference for all on 10/24.
10/24/18 Update: Next pretrial hearing set for 11/27 for Merritt, Bom, Rodriguez & Clement.
Pearl Fernandez (mom) & Isauro Aguirre were sentenced 6/7/18-Pearl life w/o parole, Isauro received the death penalty.

 

[LaborDayRN]

Tuesday, Nov. 27th:
*Pretrial Conference Hearing (@ 10am PT) - CA - Gabriel Fernandez (8) (May 23, 2013, Lancaster) - Child Services personnel Patricia Clement, Stephanie Rodriguez, & supervisors Gregory Merritt, Kevin Bom (Bloom) charged (3/20/17) & arraigned (4/3/17) on one felony count child abuse & falsifying records. $1M bail for each; all posted bail on 4/7/16.
9/13/18 Update: A Los Angeles County judge on Thursday denied a motion to dismiss child abuse and other charges against four social workers in the killing of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez, concluding that the Palmdale boy’s death had been “foreseeable.” Judge Lomeli said the social workers had not properly documented the abuse nor the mother’s repeated refusal to attend counseling. The judge said he had reviewed the voluminous case files and noted that the defendants had overruled a scoring system set up to detect danger to children. The defendants demonstrated “an improper regard for human life” and “a lack of vigilance,” Lomeli said.
9/13/18 Update: Next Pretrial conference for all on 10/24.
10/24/18 Update: Next pretrial hearing set for 11/27 for Merritt, Bom, Rodriguez & Clement.
Pearl Fernandez (mom) & Isauro Aguirre were sentenced 6/7/18-Pearl life w/o parole, Isauro received the death penalty.

I hope this trial finally gets underway. It's shocking how many years this is taking!

 

[Niner]

for all:

Date Time Location Dept/Room Number
January 8, 2019 08:30 AM Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center 107 PRETRIAL CONFERENCE

link: Criminal Case Summary - Online Services - LA Court

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, January 8th:
*Pretrial Conference Hearing (@ 8:30am PT) - CA - Gabriel Fernandez (8) (May 23, 2013, Lancaster) - Child Services personnel Patricia Clement, Stephanie Rodriguez, & supervisors Gregory Merritt, Kevin Bom (Bloom) charged (3/20/17) & arraigned (4/3/17) on one felony count child abuse & falsifying records. All plead not guilty. $1M bail for each; all posted bail on 4/7/16.
9/13/18 Update: A Los Angeles County judge on Thursday denied a motion to dismiss child abuse and other charges against four social workers in the killing of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez, concluding that the Palmdale boy’s death had been “foreseeable.” Judge Lomeli said the social workers had not properly documented the abuse nor the mother’s repeated refusal to attend counseling. The judge said he had reviewed the voluminous case files and noted that the defendants had overruled a scoring system set up to detect danger to children. The defendants demonstrated “an improper regard for human life” and “a lack of vigilance,” Lomeli said.
9/13/18 Update: Next Pretrial conference for all on 10/24. 10/24/18: Next pretrial hearing set for 11/27 for Merritt, Bom, Rodriguez & Clement.
11/27/18 Update: Next Pretrial hearing on 1/8/19 for all.
Pearl Fernandez (mom) & Isauro Aguirre were sentenced 6/7/18-Pearl life w/o parole, Isauro received the death penalty.

 

[Niner]

For Bom, Merritt & Clement. Rodriguez is not included in this hearing.

Date Time Location Dept/Room Number
March 7, 2019 08:30 AM Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center 107 PRETRIAL CONFERENCE

link: http://www.lacourt.org/criminalcasesummary/ui/Selection.aspx#

 

[LietKynes]

Thank you for updating us, Niner.
I can barely stand to read anything about this case.
I hope Gabriel is in a place of light, love, and beauty that we cannot imagine.

 

[Niner]

They have 2 cases listed with each person. So decided to check the 2nd entry for her. Looks like she will be with the rest of them at that hearing.
For Rodriguez:

Date Time Location Dept/Room Number
March 7, 2019 08:30 AM Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center 107 PRETRIAL CONFERENCE

link: Criminal Case Summary - Online Services - LA Court

 

[Niner]

Wondering if this article pertains to this case - I can't access it, but got the alert under Gabriel's name.

Counselor Testified She Didn’t Report Suspected Abuse Before Gabriel Fernandez’s Death

If so - can someone give a 10% synopsis, please? TIA!