Reseda Girl Tells Police Mother Has Drug Habit

A 10-year-old Reseda girl has become the fourth California youngster in three months to turn in her parents for alleged drug abuse.

Police said the girl dialed the 911 emergency number from a pay telephone Monday night, saying she had seen her mother smoking what she believed to be a purified form of cocaine.

The girl told officers that her mother usually sent her to her room when the mother used the drug. On Monday evening, said Sgt. Steve Frye, the mother sent the girl and the mother’s 5-year-old grandson to a bedroom.

The girl climbed out a window to make the call at about 7:30 p.m. and returned before officers arrived, Frye said.

As the officers arrived, drugs and paraphernalia were being hidden behind the house, Frye said. The girl showed officers where the items were.

The mother, identified as Barbara Cortez, 46, was arrested for investigation of possessing cocaine, a felony, Frye said.

Her husband, Ernest Cortez, 55, and their son-in-law, Jeffrey Smith, 27, were arrested for investigation of child endangering, a misdemeanor, Frye said. Smith’s wife, who was not identified, apparently fled from the house, he added.

Girl Was Scared

The two children were placed in the custody of the Department of Public Social Services.

Nobody answered the door Tuesday at the house.

Asked why the girl had turned her parents in, Frye replied: “She just said she was afraid.”

It was the fourth time a California girl has turned in her parents for alleged drug abuse since Aug. 13, when 13-year-old Deanna Young walked into the Tustin police station and delivered a sack of illegal drugs to the desk sergeant.

Deanna’s parents, Bobby Dale Young and wife Judith, pleaded innocent to drug possession charges and have sought placement in a narcotics education program. Deanna has since been returned to her parents’ custody.

About two months later, Jennifer Banks, a 13-year-old girl from Yuba City who had read about Deanna Young’s case, turned in her mother and the mother’s boyfriend.

Officers said they found methamphetamines, marijuana and drug-producing equipment in the house, along with three truckloads of stolen property.

Jennifer remains in foster care. Her mother, Sandra Banks, 32, and Mitchell Gregg, 29, have been charged with possessing methamphetamines and marijuana for sale and manufacture of methamphetamines. They are free on bail pending arraignment Nov. 3.

On Oct. 16, a 10-year-old Meridian girl called the Sutter County sheriff’s office and whispered: “My parents are growing marijuana.” Deputies served a search warrant the next day and arrested her mother, Pauleah Minix, 31, and stepfather, Clinton Minix, 49, for investigation of marijuana cultivation. Deputies and a narcotics task force said they seized marijuana plants growing in an attic and bathroom in the home 15 miles west of Yuba City.