Woman Seized for Abuse of Younger Sister

A 14-year-old Hacienda Heights girl was taken into protective custody after allegedly being beaten and confined in the garage of her sister’s house for much of the last five years, a Sheriff’s Department spokesman said today.

Sgt. Leroy Chastain said that when deputies found Martha Martinez, she had a disfigured ear and other scars on her body, apparently the result of beatings. She also suffered from malnutrition, he said.

The girl’s sister, Suzanne Perez, 33, was arrested at the house Thursday night and booked at the Industry sheriff’s station on suspicion of felony child abuse, mayhem, assault with force likely to produce great bodily harm and false imprisonment. Perez, who works as a cleaning woman, was being held on $22,000 bail.

Temporary Home Sought

Martinez was taken into protective custody and efforts are being made to place her in a temporary home.

Martinez reportedly accompanied her sister to help clean houses, but frequently was kept in the garage at Perez’s home in the 15000 block of Shadybend Drive, Chastain said. Martinez is illiterate and has not attended school since she was 10, he said.