Infant Hospitalized After Exposure to Fentanyl in Southern California, Parents Arrested

Police lights flash in a file photo. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

A mother and father were arrested July 15 after exposing their 1-year-old daughter to fentanyl, leading to her hospitalization, according to the Victor Valley Sheriff’s Department.

Austin Avina, 27, and Carla Veltri, 22, both of Apple Valley, were arrested at their residence on the 9600 block of Bowen Ranch Road around noon, authorities said in a press release Monday.

Sheriff Deputy S. Alvarez was sent by Child Protection Services after the infant’s hospitalization to search the couple’s home, which led to their arrest.

“Through the investigation, it was confirmed the exposure occurred at home while with the parents,” authorities said.

Mr. Avina and Ms. Veltri were booked into the High Desert Detention Center and are being held on $100,000 bail each.

Both are scheduled to appear July 18 for arraignment, according to the San Bernardino County Superior Court. They are each charged with felony child endangerment.

Deputies are seeing more cases where children are being exposed to fentanyl, especially among teenagers and youth who are purchasing variations of the drug on social media, according to a sheriff’s department spokesperson.

While cases involving toddlers and infants are fewer in comparison, detectives say they are seeing an increase in such cases, the spokesperson said.

Also, this week, a mother of twin 3-year-old boys was charged with murder and child abuse after the sons died last week due to fentanyl exposure, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón.

“These innocent boys reportedly came into contact with fentanyl, an opioid that has wreaked havoc across our communities,” he said in a July 16 press release.

He said the deaths are part of a “disturbing trend” in which more babies and toddlers are being exposed to the deadly drug, sometimes resulting in death.

“My office is committed to holding accountable anyone who exposes vulnerable children to such dangerous substances,” he said.

The mother, Jestice James, is charged with two counts of murder and two counts of child abuse and endangerment and is being held in lieu of $4 million bail.

Also, last month, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined the cause of death of a 17-month-old Lancaster boy in February was fentanyl exposure. He came in contact with the drug during a supervised visit with his mother, which was approved by Los Angeles County’s Department of Children and Family Services. The boy had been in foster care.