This is a press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in court and everyone described should be suspected innocent to demonstrably guilty::

Engraving after C. Chisholme. Iconographic collections [Wiki Commons]

At around 12:00 p.m. on December 21, 2020, Child Protective Services (CPS) contacted the Mendocino County Sheriff’s office about a possible child abuse situation that occurred last week in Covelo, California.

MPs were told that the child was a 4-year-old woman who had numerous visible bruises on her body and was being treated at a local hospital for her injuries.

The MP conducted numerous interviews and learned that the 4-year-old was pooping on the floor in a residence in Covelo, angering mother Samantha Dildine [age 24]who hit the child with a wooden branch and caused the visible injuries.

Subsequently, Dildine was arrested and taken to Mendocino County Prison for injuring a child (273 (A) A PC).

In accordance with the COVID-19 Emergency Order issued by the California State Council of Justice, Dildine’s bail was set at zero dollars and she would have been released after the prison booking process.

The vicar who conducted the investigation turned to a judge in Mendocino County, who approved a bail increase to $ 25,000 and an Emergency Protection Order (EPA) to protect the child.

The assistant and CPS social workers carried out follow-up examinations and found that two other children were living at the Covelo residence.

The follow-up examinations revealed that there were a 1 year old female child and a 3 year old female child in the residence who had similar injuries to their bodies.

The MP contacted a judge in Mendocino County and was given an EPA to protect these children as well. All three children were placed in shelters by CPS.