SANTA ANA, Calif.—A Garden Grove couple who had two 5-month-old twin boys test positive for fentanyl in their system, with one baby also sustaining a skull fracture, pleaded not guilty to child abuse charges Jan. 9.
Lauren Marie Hinton, 30, and Alexander Santiago, 34, were both charged Tuesday with two felony counts of child abuse and endangerment. Ms. Hinton was also charged with a felony count of bringing fentanyl into jail, according to court records.
The two, who entered their not guilty pleas in the jail courtroom in Santa Ana, are next due in court for a pretrial hearing Jan. 19 in the West Justice Center in Westminster.
Ms. Hinton brought one of the babies to Children’s Hospital of Orange County on Friday because she said “something’s off” with him and after running tests doctors discovered the victim allegedly had fentanyl in his blood and a skull fracture, Garden Grove Police Department Sgt. Nick Jensen said.
Police went to the family’s home to talk to the father and found the victim’s twin also allegedly had fentanyl in his system, Mr. Jensen said.
