The following is a press released from Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:
On 12-21-2020 at about 12:00 PM Child Protective Services (CPS) contacted the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office about a possible child abuse situation that had taken place the previous week in Covelo, California.
Deputies were advised the child was a 4 year-old female who had numerous visible bruises on her body, and had been treated at a local hospital due to her injuries.
The Deputy conducted numerous interviews and learned the 4 year-old child had defecated on the floor at a residence in Covelo which upset the mother, Samantha Dildine, who struck the child with a wooden branch causing the visible injuries.
Dildine was subsequently arrested and transported to the Mendocino County Jail for inflicting injury to a child (273(A)A PC).
In accordance with the COVID-19 emergency order issued by the State of California Judicial Council, bail was set at zero dollars for Dildine and she would have been released after the jail booking process.
The Deputy conducting the investigation contacted a Mendocino County Judge who authorized a bail enhancement to $25,000.00 and an Emergency Protective Order (EPO) to protect the child.
The Deputy and CPS social worker conducted follow-up investigations and determined there were two other children living at the residence in Covelo.
The follow-up investigations showed there was a 1 year-old female child and 3 year-old female child at the residence that had similar injuries on their bodies.
The Deputy contacted a Mendocino County Judge and obtained an EPO to also protect these children. All three children where placed into protective housing by CPS.
