GUILTY CA - Justice Rees, 2 wks, Woodland, 24 Feb 2015

[BrownRice]

The pictures of her "before" and then her mug shot are astonishing. When I saw the mugshot a couple days ago, it screamed out meth, so this news is not surprising. Not to be a pessimist, but poor Justice had no chance. It will be curious to see if CPS had issued a safety plan like the previous poster explained, as a former CPS worker in another state. I am not one to jump on the anti-CPS bandwagon as they are often an easy target.

 

[MsMarple]

I am so confused lol I am wondering if it means she did not deliberately do anything thing to cause his death such as smother him but she is charged because she endangered him by taking him to the slough to do drugs, where he died???

I think the DA has so little evidence to go on right now that he hobbled together whatever he felt would stick. I don't know what SG's current story is but if she's still claiming that Justice froze to death in the slough then without a time of death or cause of death I guess he has to base the charges on that. I dunno.

I'm assuming the DA doesn't have the full report on Justice yet but I could be wrong - in which case I'll just scratch my head along with y'all. What I'm really puzzled by is why felony murder isn't being applied here.

Hopefully the 5 o'clock news reports will have more info.

 

[MsMarple]

5 o'clock news says SG could face up to 12 years.

Dad got 10 days in jail plus probation on one charge but he's also facing a charge of child endangerment. No court date set yet for it.

 

[MsMarple]

Autopsy results were inconclusive but Justice is believed to have died of either drowning or hypothermia. More tests — specifically for drugs or other medications — are pending and will probably take several weeks to complete.

Meanwhile, Justice’s father Frank Rees, 29, was also arraigned Wednesday on unrelated misdemeanor warrants — two from driving on a suspended license and without vehicle insurance in Yolo County, as well as one alleging child endangerment, driving on a suspended license and impaired driving in Lake County.
...
Although his Yolo County cases were resolved Wednesday, Rees’ Lake County charges remain.

http://www.dailydemocrat.com/genera...voluntary-manslaughter-in-baby-justices-death

 

[sallye818]

Ok, one article says "during the commission of a felony" but this Fox 40 news article says "in the commission of a lawful act which might produce death, in an unlawful matter…” (http://fox40.com/2015/03/04/yolo-county-da-lessens-charge-against-baby-justices-mother/). OK someone help me understand ... how can it be during the commission of a lawful act AND during the commission of a felony? I was thinking the felony may be buying/using drugs, but I really don't understand that jargon about committing a lawful act in an unlawful matter?!

And yes, I have to hold the grandparents with which this "family" lived partially responsible...they knew CPS had the parents under a safety plan, both had a history of using drugs and criminal behavior, and the baby was born with meth is his system...they should NOT have allowed that child to be alone with either parent!

 

[time]

5 o'clock news says SG could face up to 12 years.

Dad got 10 days in jail plus probation on one charge but he's also facing a charge of child endangerment. No court date set yet for it.

Is that child endangerment charge related to the remaining charge in Lake County?

Sorry, I found the answer:

Lake County also issued a warrant for Rees on suspicion of driving under the influence, driving with blood alcohol of .08 or higher, driving with suspended license and child endangerment, according to Yolo County sheriff's Capt. Larry Cecchettini.

According to courthouse records, Rees has had some problems with the law in the past. In 2010 Rees stole $3,500 worth of firearms from his father, along with jewelry that he pawned and checks that he forged.

Rees was sentenced to two years in state prison for those charges and also went to a drug treatment program.

http://www.news10.net/story/news/lo...her-frank-rees-arrested-misdemeanor/24240525/

 

[MsMarple]

The second video here is an interview with an attorney who explains the charges a little bit. Kinda. Sorta.

He also speculated that the DA charged involuntary manslaughter versus murder because the coroner couldn't determine whether the COD was drowning or hypothermia and clear intent on SG's part couldn't be established. IOW, Justice's death could have been collateral damage while SG was in a "fugue" state due to drugs or something. AKA manslaughter

I'm surprised since I thought drowning could be shown or eliminated based on examining lung tissue. Good thing I'm not a doctor. I was particularily interested to see if there was water in Justice's lungs because microscopic examination can show whether it was lake water or tap water - I had some suspicions that Justice may have had an "accident" during bath time. I guess I'll never know.

So... apparently it's okay to get high and allow your baby to die as long as you didn't mean for it to happen. Remember the movie Trainspotting? Well, I hope she serves some jail time - if it wasn't for the felony endangerment with enhanced circumstances she'd probably just get probation. Either way I hope she gets heavy counseling for her drug problem.

And it also looks like dad won't face any charges in Justice's murder. The Lake county charges of child endangerment seem to stem from his driving drunk - he probably had his other kids in the car with him at the time. Father of the year.

http://www.news10.net/story/news/lo...stice-samantha-green-facing-charges/24387851/

 

[time]

The second video here is an interview with an attorney who explains the charges a little bit. Kinda. Sorta.

He also speculated that the DA charged involuntary manslaughter versus murder because the coroner couldn't determine whether the COD was drowning or hypothermia and clear intent on SG's part couldn't be established. I'm surprised since I thought drowning could be shown or eliminated based on examining lung tissue. Good thing I'm not a doctor. I was particularily interested to see if there was water in Justice's lungs because microscopic examination can show whether it was lake water or tap water - I had some suspicions that Justice may have had an "accident" during bath time. I guess I'll never really know.

And it also looks like that dad won't face any charges. The Lake county charges of child endangerment seem to stem from his driving drunk - he probably had his other kids in the car with him at the time. Father of the year.

http://www.news10.net/story/news/lo...stice-samantha-green-facing-charges/24387851/

I also don't understand not being able to tell COD being either drowning or hypothermia... seems to mean the baby had water in his lungs, but they didn't know that this was the actual COD. Good call on testing the fluid/water, wonder if they did.

BBM - I guess dad doesn't face charges in Yolo County, but given all we know, including the one child being run over, I hope he does face charges in Lake County.

 

[milkymama]

How was she ever allowed to take him home instead of him going to foster care if he was born with meth in his system? She just promised she wouldn't do meth any more, and they believed her?

 

[katydid23]

How was she ever allowed to take him home instead of him going to foster care if he was born with meth in his system? She just promised she wouldn't do meth any more, and they believed her?

The CPS workers set up a 'safety plan' ----which involved the infants parents living with his parents to oversee the baby. However, his parents allowed Mom to take the baby out of the home and visit 'friends', etc.

 

[tlcya]

MOO, the safety plan was not observed. Period. I think grandma Rees probably feels horrible about it but she cannot unring that bell, hence her unwavering support for mom and apparent denial that baby's mother could have done anything to harm him.

 

[MsMarple]

FWIW, here's the criminal complaint:

http://yoloda.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/GREEN-COMPLAINT.pdf

It outlines which sections of California's Penal Code SG is being charged under. Her next hearing is scheduled for March 30. With luck we'll see the probable cause statement then.

 

[SwampMama]

http://www.kcra.com/news/local-news...father-frank-rees-taken-into-custody/31660734

Frank Rees, the father of baby Justice Rees, has been taken back into custody outside the family's home just two days after he was ordered to be released by a Yolo County judge on charges unreleased to his son's death.

 

[SwampMama]

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2015/03/06/baby-justices-father-arrested-in-yolo-county/
The father of Baby Justice has been arrested on drug and weapons-related charges after a search of a home on Friday.

Frank Rees was released on Thursday, but was rearrested on Friday after investigators say they found a narcotics smoking pipe, methamphetamine and ammunition.

The methamphetamine was reportedly where children would be able to access it.

Rees arrested of possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, being an ex-felon possessing ammunition, and a probation violation. He is being held on $45,000 bail.

 

[BrownRice]

Oh dear. I hope those other little kids get far away from that family. How sad.

 

[MsMarple]

http://www.kcra.com/news/local-news...father-frank-rees-taken-into-custody/31660734

Frank Rees, the father of baby Justice Rees, has been taken back into custody outside the family's home just two days after he was ordered to be released by a Yolo County judge on charges unreleased to his son's death.

Oh wow, just wow - thanks so much for finding this! I was feeling despair that this case was going to quietly go away. Like I said earlier, I think the Yolo county sheriff had strong feelings about this case and was keeping his real thoughts in check. I guess he's looking for answers too, and most importantly, making sure that everyone who contributed to Justice's death gets their due.

You rock sheriff!

Question of the day - how could the grandparents not know?

Call me vengeful but this new arrest felt muy satisfying.

 

[nikb]

This whole story just makes me cry. It's pretty local to me so I've been following fairly closely. In fact I think I've been boating in that slough where Justice was found. I do freak out a little bit when we go through any of that shallowish water (for non-locals, most of it's still very accessible by boat - some of the sloughs here are shallow but they're mostly not muddy/swampy). I try to block it out and just enjoy boating but I can never forget WS and people missing in the general area.

I feel like that poor kid never had a chance. Even alive and at home, he just didn't have a chance.

 

[MsMarple]

Frank Rees was released on Thursday, but was rearrested on Friday after investigators say they found a narcotics smoking pipe, methamphetamine and ammunition.

The methamphetamine was reportedly where children would be able to access it.

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2015/03/06/baby-justices-father-arrested-in-yolo-county/

I'd love to know where that was.

 

[SwampMama]

Oh wow, just wow - thanks so much for finding this! I was feeling despair that this case was going to quietly go away. Like I said earlier, I think the Yolo county sheriff had strong feelings about this case and was keeping his real thoughts in check. I guess he's looking for answers too, and most importantly, making sure that everyone who contributed to Justice's death gets their due.

You rock sheriff!

Question of the day - how could the grandparents not know?

Call me vengeful but this new arrest felt muy satisfying.

There will be more to come. You can believe that.

 

[nikb]

SwampMama I think you're right. It's not going away. I can't believe how much this case has been blowing up my Facebook feed plus people are constantly talking about it locally. Thank goodness.