BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com

Santana Chavez, 28, of Los Alamos, has been charged with two counts of abandonment of a child (not resulting in death or great bodily harm) by the Los Alamos Police Department. The charges follow an April 16 incident in which she allegedly left two of her three children alone in her apartment. The children, ages five and two, were discovered sleeping on a living room couch by apartment complex employees who were seeking access to the unit to inspect fire extinguishers.

Court documents filed by LAPD Cpl. Ronaldo Ulibarri state that the employees initially retreated and closed the door when no one answered. When they returned a short time later and knocked again, the two small children opened the door themselves. At that point, the employees contacted law enforcement.

In his report, Cpl. Ulibarri described the conditions in the apartment as “very poor,” noting trash and used diapers strewn about. The young girl told the officer she had last seen her mother “last night,” saying, “she kissed me goodnight.” Cpl. Ulibarri obtained Chavez’s phone number and called her to ask for an estimated time of return. When Chavez arrived home at 11:08 a.m., she stated she had left the children because they were asleep and she needed to travel to the Walmart in Española for diapers.

When asked why she traveled to Española when a Smith’s grocery store is located just down the street, Chavez alleged that her four-month-old infant requires “special” diapers for sensitive skin that are not available at Smith’s.

“Ms. Chavez provided inconsistent statements as to her whereabouts and at what time the children were left unattended,” Cpl. Ulibarri’s statement read. He noted that while Chavez claimed to have left at 8 a.m., he received the call for service at 9:21 a.m., and she did not return until 11:08 a.m.

Ms. Chavez has been issued a summons to appear before Magistrate Judge Catherine Taylor on May 6 to face the two charges.