NV - Pair who left sons may face charges

[Beyond Belief]

I 'd like to see these people put in jail for this.

 

[SewingDeb]

The parents seem like such self-absorbed juveniles. Giving each other puppies for christmas, like high school teenagers would do, and then taking the puppies to be cared for by her mother over the long weekend. I wonder if the stepgrandmother asked, even like in passing, so where will the boys be while you're gone?

And I just keep thinking of the deceased mother, who died of breast cancer, she must have been worried about what would become of her children her last several months.

This story really seems to be striking a chord with a lot of people.

One of the boys is autistic! What a huge responsibility for his brother.

http://www.wral.com/news/5859640/detail.html

This is sad: Joshua said his father and stepmother got each other puppies for Christmas, which they brought to De La Vega's mother to care for before leaving town.

"I thought they loved them more than us," Joshua told The Associated Press during an interview at his maternal grandmother's apartment. The children's mother died in 2003.

 

[mssheila]

I wonder what the stepmother's relationship is like with the boys. I can only surmise that she is unprepared for children, and cannot be bothered. Beyond that though, their own FATHER decided that the older child could watch the younger autistic boy? This makes no sense. I realize that people are self absorbed, and they're newlyweds, but damn... your kids come first.

 

[SewingDeb]

I wonder what the stepmother's relationship is like with the boys. I can only surmise that she is unprepared for children, and cannot be bothered. Beyond that though, their own FATHER decided that the older child could watch the younger autistic boy? This makes no sense. I realize that people are self absorbed, and they're newlyweds, but damn... your kids come first.

Neither one sound like parent material. I'm glad they are with their maternal grandmother now and I hope they are allowed to remain with her.

 

[Details]

"I thought they loved them more than us," Joshua told The Associated Press during an interview at his maternal grandmother's apartment. The children's mother died in 2003.

Kid is dead right! They do love the puppies more than the kids. Why they didn't just turn the kids over to foster care immediately I don't understand. It'd be cold, but better than what they did.

 

[LinasK]

Posted on Thu, Jan. 05, 2006

By Kelli Phillips and Cassandra Braun

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

San Ramon police on Wednesday arrested a father and stepmother suspected of leaving their two young boys home alone over New Years weekend while their three dogs were cared for by pet-sitters.

Investigators escorted Jacob Calero, 39, and Michelle Delavega, 32, from their America West flight when it arrived about about 11 a.m. in Oakland from Las Vegas, said San Ramon Sgt. Brian Kalinowski.

They were held on suspicion of felony child endangerment in lieu of $200,000 bail each, Calero at County Jail in Martinez and Delavega at the West County Detention Facility in Richmond. Both declined reporters' requests for interviews Wednesday.

Police, alerted by the boy's maternal grandmother, discovered Jason, 5 and Joshua, 10, home alone Saturday night with cereal and frozen meals to eat and a cell phone number to call for emergencies. Their parents were spending the New Year's weekend in Las Vegas, Kalinowski said.

Joshua, staying with his brother at their grandmother's home in Manteca, said Wednesday he's angry that his father and stepmother left them behind.

"I'm mad they left. I'm mad they didn't take us with them," the boy said.

The 10-year-old said he knew his parents were leaving, but they didn't say goodbye. The boys apparently awoke Friday morning to find their father and stepmother gone and no idea who, if anyone, might be by to check on them.

Police said the couple left their home about 5 a.m. Friday.

Earlier that night, a neighbor had taken in the 5-year-old, who Holden says is autistic, after hearing him screaming from inside his home's garage. Joshua, who had been at a friend's house for a few hours, later retrieved his younger brother from the neighbor's home, Kalinowski said.

The children were taken into custody by Child Protective Services and later turned over to Holden, who took them to her Manteca apartment.

Holden, who had cared for the boys over Christmas, said the couple had asked her to again watch the boys but she declined because she had to work. "Michelle said 'Just leave the boys at home, Joshua will watch Jason,' but I said no, that's against the law."

Holden called Delavega on Thursday to see if they were still going to Vegas and who would be baby-sitting. "She said they tried to find someone, but they couldn't," Holden said. "I said 'Why don't you take the kids to Vegas and be together as a family, at least for New Year's, but she said 'We are newlyweds, we deserve a vacation.'" more at link:http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/13554747.htm

 

[BillyGoatGruff]

Wanna bet these two suddenly lose every client they ever had? That'll keep 'em from gallivanting off to Vegas for romantic weekends withot the kids!

 

[lcookster]

Well, that clinches it for me. The stepmother brazenly declaring she was going to Vegas alone, without the kids, cuz she's a Newlywed. HELLOOOOOOO, You married a guy with two kids you twit. And the Grandmother had the kids over Christmas too...So these folks really want nothing to do with these children. And the fact that there have been multiple overnights away burns me up. Poor Grandma, I hope someone steps up to give her the resources she needs. Could the Father be forced to pay child support?

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Well, that clinches it for me. The stepmother brazenly declaring she was going to Vegas alone, without the kids, cuz she's a Newlywed. HELLOOOOOOO, You married a guy with two kids you twit. And the Grandmother had the kids over Christmas too...So these folks really want nothing to do with these children. And the fact that there have been multiple overnights away burns me up. Poor Grandma, I hope someone steps up to give her the resources she needs. Could the Father be forced to pay child support?

Of course he can and I hope this works out just that way!!

 

[PrayersForMaura]

Holden, who had cared for the boys over Christmas, said the couple had asked her to again watch the boys but she declined because she had to work. "Michelle said 'Just leave the boys at home, Joshua will watch Jason,' but I said no, that's against the law."

Holden called Delavega on Thursday to see if they were still going to Vegas and who would be baby-sitting. "She said they tried to find someone, but they couldn't," Holden said. "I said 'Why don't you take the kids to Vegas and be together as a family, at least for New Year's, but she said 'We are newlyweds, we deserve a vacation.'" more at link:http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/13554747.htm

This is just terrible!
This woman sounds like a spoiled brat.
It sounds as if she's jealous of the kids, too.
Probably some woman who's starved for love, attention, materialistic things, and money. And like others have written, doesn't want to be bothered with kids. Especially another woman's kids.

Those poor kids. And that blind man. That man must be so blinded by "love". He's letting this thing of a "woman" control his life now. His kids are probably feeling so unloved, missing their mother. I can only imagine what they are feeling and going through. Maybe feeling lost and lonely, unloved.
Terrible.

She's definitely a wicked step-mother.

 

[j2mirish]

This is just terrible!
This woman sounds like a spoiled brat.
It sounds as if she's jealous of the kids, too.
Probably some woman who's starved for love, attention, materialistic things, and money. And like others have written, doesn't want to be bothered with kids. Especially another woman's kids.

Those poor kids. And that blind man. That man must be so blinded by "love". He's letting this thing of a "woman" control his life now. His kids are probably feeling so unloved, missing their mother. I can only imagine what they are feeling and going through. Maybe feeling lost and lonely, unloved.
Terrible.

She's definitely a wicked step-mother.

she might be a wicked step-mother--- but HE IS THEIR FATHER!!!!!!!!!!!!:furious:

 

[mysteriew]

Actually I am kind of glad that it worked out this way, and thanks to the attentive grandmother who made sure it did.
First of all, if they hadn't been caught leaving the kids- the kids would have had a pretty empty, unloved life. And who knows what would have eventually happened to the boys, with a selfish stepmother like this. Would she have eventually physically lashed out at one kids? Dealing with a child with any type of challenges, can be very frustrating. Who knows how long it would have been before she would have been abusing the boys or worse. The neglect was bad enough- but these kids were at risk for much worse, IMO.
Do not get me started on the alleged father. He was nothing more than a sperm donor for the boys, not a father. Undoubtedly, the stupid piece of meat will try to blame the stepmother now. But he was the one who was charged with loving and caring for those boys. And he more or less was abandoning them. He might have been there physically part of the time. But not as their father!

 

[BillyGoatGruff]

This is just terrible!
This woman sounds like a spoiled brat.
It sounds as if she's jealous of the kids, too.
Probably some woman who's starved for love, attention, materialistic things, and money. And like others have written, doesn't want to be bothered with kids. Especially another woman's kids.

Those poor kids. And that blind man. That man must be so blinded by "love". He's letting this thing of a "woman" control his life now. His kids are probably feeling so unloved, missing their mother. I can only imagine what they are feeling and going through. Maybe feeling lost and lonely, unloved.
Terrible.

She's definitely a wicked step-mother.

My best friend's second wife was exactly like this . She was jealous of his daughters by his first marriage to the point of psychosis. She made his life and the girls' a living hell to the point where he eventually retreated into alcoholism and they went to live with their biological mother. Once she had succeeded in driving off the kids and ruining his health to point where he ended up in AA, she decided he was no fun anymore and his drinking problem was "his" problem, not hers, and divorced him. He literally died of a stress-related heart attack while arguing with her over the divorce settlement in his living room.

 

[petra]

Actually I am kind of glad that it worked out this way, and thanks to the attentive grandmother who made sure it did.
First of all, if they hadn't been caught leaving the kids- the kids would have had a pretty empty, unloved life. And who knows what would have eventually happened to the boys, with a selfish stepmother like this. Would she have eventually physically lashed out at one kids? Dealing with a child with any type of challenges, can be very frustrating. Who knows how long it would have been before she would have been abusing the boys or worse. The neglect was bad enough- but these kids were at risk for much worse, IMO.
Do not get me started on the alleged father. He was nothing more than a sperm donor for the boys, not a father. Undoubtedly, the stupid piece of meat will try to blame the stepmother now. But he was the one who was charged with loving and caring for those boys. And he more or less was abandoning them. He might have been there physically part of the time. But not as their father!

I think it worked out for the best too. Wouldn't be suprised if grandma had a little hand in planning this situation too. and good for her. otherwise, it would be very difficult to prove them as unfit parents..maybe take yrs.

The boys lost their mom a few years ago, and it seems the maternal grandma has been there for them alot. I hope she gets custody.

Leaving these kids alone in a second floor apt from fri 5am until wed....5 days and telling them not to open the front door for anyone...yet balcony back door was open.............poor kids. No mom,lousy dad...hope they can get help and heal from this. Truly awful.

 

[Mr. E]

After the birth of my first child, it took my husband and me 14 years to have a vacation together alone. By that time, our kids were 14 and 9. Oh, and we had a babysitter to stay with them (Grandpa).

I find it hard to believe parents could be that stupid. I wonder if there were other factors, like drugs/alcohol.

 

[BillyGoatGruff]

After the birth of my first child, it took my husband and me 14 years to have a vacation together alone. By that time, our kids were 14 and 9. Oh, and we had a babysitter to stay with them (Grandpa).

I find it hard to believe parents could be that stupid. I wonder if there were other factors, like drugs/alcohol.

Naw. Probably just p*ssy.

 

[LinasK]

POSTED: 12:35 pm PST January 6, 2006
UPDATED: 6:40 pm PST January 6, 2006


WALNUT CREEK -- A tearful San Ramon couple charged with felony child endangerment for allegedly leaving their two small children home alone while they took a New Year's jaunt to Las Vegas appeared in a Walnut Creek courtroom this afternoon just long enough to hear a judge deny their request for reduced bail.

Jacob Calero, 39, and Michelle De La Vega, 32, face up to seven years and four months in prison each if convicted, according to Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney John Yamaguchi. They remain in custody on $200,000 bail each.


Yamaguchi said felony charges against the couple were justified given the ages of the boys, 10 and 5, and the circumstances of the incident.


"These two people, dad and stepmom, had a greater desire to be in Las Vegas than with their kids," Yamaguchi said. He added that the couple arranged for care of their young dogs while they were in Las Vegas.


Both Calero and De La Vega sobbed audibly throughout their brief appearance as Judge Charles Treat wasted little time, denying their request for reduced bail almost before their attorneys finished speaking.

The couple is scheduled to return to court on Thursday to enter pleas. more at link:http://www.ktvu.com/news/5890849/detail.html

 

[mysteriew]

I am not taking up for these 's. But I do have a question. Bail was denied for them. But bail is routinely granted for murderers or sex offenders if they can come up with the money. What is the reasoning?

 

[LinasK]

I am not taking up for these 's. But I do have a question. Bail was denied for them. But bail is routinely granted for murderers or sex offenders if they can come up with the money. What is the reasoning?

Probably they are a flight risk, they just got back from Vegas...

 

[golfmom]

The dad was surprised at his arrest when he got off a plane after a 5 day honeymoon in Los Vegas. Turns out he left his 10 yo son in charge of his 5 yo autistic son. He did however, make full arrangements for his dogs to stay at his new mother-in-laws home ... so don't worry about them, they're safe. Oh, btw, these boy's mother died of breast cancer just a couple of years ago, I guess the boys were getting in the way of dad starting over.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/columnists/dispatch/13563224.htm

...........
But Vegas? Five nights?
Calero and De La Vega did leave cereal, TV dinners and Calero's cell phone number in case anything came up. Anything like, oh, stomach flu, a kitchen fire, an intruder, a fall, a bathtub drowning, an electrocution. You can make your own list.
Police arrested the couple at Oakland International Airport on Wednesday when they returned from holiday. Calero and De La Vega might have pulled it off, but Libbey Holden, the boys' maternal grandmother, became suspicious. She called police the day after investigators say the parents left. The boys are now living with Holden.
......

more at link