Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Tulare County Prosecutors Outraged by Lenient Sentence in Baby's Hot Car Death
bill-new-mug-002
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 3 years ago on
October 7, 2021

Share

Eustajia Dominguez Mojica, whose 3-year-old daughter died after being left in a car in Visalia during a June heatwave, has received a one-year jail sentence.

Eustajia Dominguez Mojica was sentenced to one year in jail for involuntary manslaughter, child abuse, and misdemeanor drug charges. (Tulare County DA’s Office)

Tulare County Superior Court Judge Michael Sheltzer handed down the sentence, which included credit for time served and a suspended state prison stint of more than eight years.

Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward and the case’s prosecutors objected vehemently to the sentence, noting that the DA’s Office declined to offer a plea bargain to Mojica.

“The Office of the District Attorney made no offers in this case and does not agree with the sentencing resolution,” the DA’s Office said in a news release issued Thursday.

Baby Left in Car While Mom Processed Marijuana

According to court documents,  Mojica, 29, drove to her sister’s Visalia residence and parked on the street in the sun on June 3. While Mojica processed marijuana, her daughter stayed in the car for more than two hours in triple-digit heat.

After someone at the house asked about the baby girl, she was found in the car and brought inside. She later died at the hospital.

During the investigation of the child’s death, the DA’s Office said, officers learned that Mojica was warned numerous times by the child’s father about leaving the children in hot cars. The investigation also uncovered evidence of ongoing child neglect, according to the DA’s Office.

Mojica Pleaded Guilty to All Charges

Mojica pleaded guilty on Aug. 31 to all charges. Among the counts: child abuse with the special allegation of willful harm or injury resulting in death, involuntary manslaughter, and several misdemeanor drug charges.

If Mojica violates her probation, a judge could order her to serve the suspended prison term.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Football vs New Mexico State: Players of the Game

DON'T MISS

Trump Safe After Secret Service Opens Fire at Suspect With Firearm Near His Golf Club

DON'T MISS

Murder Rates Spiked Under Trump. Biden Had an Answer.

DON'T MISS

Project 2025 to California: Report Abortion Data or Lose Billions in Medicaid

DON'T MISS

Should California Community Colleges Offer Bachelor’s Degrees in Nursing? Universities Say No

DON'T MISS

Bulldogs Pound a Lightweight, but a Heavyweight Looms in Two Weeks

DON'T MISS

18,000 Miles Later, an American Woman Has Cycled the World

DON'T MISS

Meet Bentley: The Athletic, Snuggly, Bright Eyed Supermutt Ready for Adoption

DON'T MISS

How Hamas Uses Brutality to Maintain Power

DON'T MISS

A College Degree While Still in High School? More Valley Students Are Doing It

UP NEXT

Trump Safe After Secret Service Opens Fire at Suspect With Firearm Near His Golf Club

UP NEXT

Murder Rates Spiked Under Trump. Biden Had an Answer.

UP NEXT

Bulldogs Pound a Lightweight, but a Heavyweight Looms in Two Weeks

UP NEXT

18,000 Miles Later, an American Woman Has Cycled the World

UP NEXT

Meet Bentley: The Athletic, Snuggly, Bright Eyed Supermutt Ready for Adoption

UP NEXT

How Hamas Uses Brutality to Maintain Power

UP NEXT

A College Degree While Still in High School? More Valley Students Are Doing It

UP NEXT

CHP Traffic Stop Bust Yields $1.3 Million Cocaine Seizure

UP NEXT

Nelson Mandela Monument Unveiled in Fresno State Peace Garden

UP NEXT

Southern California Wildfire Generates Rare ‘Fire Clouds,’ Visible from Space

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Project 2025 to California: Report Abortion Data or Lose Billions in Medicaid

11 hours ago

Should California Community Colleges Offer Bachelor’s Degrees in Nursing? Universities Say No

11 hours ago

Bulldogs Pound a Lightweight, but a Heavyweight Looms in Two Weeks

17 hours ago

18,000 Miles Later, an American Woman Has Cycled the World

1 day ago

Meet Bentley: The Athletic, Snuggly, Bright Eyed Supermutt Ready for Adoption

1 day ago

How Hamas Uses Brutality to Maintain Power

1 day ago

A College Degree While Still in High School? More Valley Students Are Doing It

1 day ago

CHP Traffic Stop Bust Yields $1.3 Million Cocaine Seizure

1 day ago

Nelson Mandela Monument Unveiled in Fresno State Peace Garden

1 day ago

Southern California Wildfire Generates Rare ‘Fire Clouds,’ Visible from Space

1 day ago

Fresno State Football vs New Mexico State: Players of the Game

Steven Sanchez Sports The Fresno State football team played a complete game recording their first shutout of the season against New Mexico ...

1 hour ago

1 hour ago

Fresno State Football vs New Mexico State: Players of the Game

2 hours ago

Trump Safe After Secret Service Opens Fire at Suspect With Firearm Near His Golf Club

Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, makes remarks at Il Toro E La Capra restaurant in Las Vegas, Aug. 23, 2024. Trump’s proposals include a 10 to 20 percent tariff on most imports, as well as a more than 60 percent tariff on Chinese products. (Roger Kisby/The New York Times)
6 hours ago

Murder Rates Spiked Under Trump. Biden Had an Answer.

11 hours ago

Project 2025 to California: Report Abortion Data or Lose Billions in Medicaid

11 hours ago

Should California Community Colleges Offer Bachelor’s Degrees in Nursing? Universities Say No

17 hours ago

Bulldogs Pound a Lightweight, but a Heavyweight Looms in Two Weeks

1 day ago

18,000 Miles Later, an American Woman Has Cycled the World

Bentley, a joyful and energetic supermutt with a unique blend of breeds, is seeking his forever home after spending a year with a rescue. (Mell's Mutts)
1 day ago

Meet Bentley: The Athletic, Snuggly, Bright Eyed Supermutt Ready for Adoption

Search

Send this to a friend