Local News in Brief : Mother in Cocaine-School Case Free on Bail From U.S. Custody

A Topanga Canyon woman accused of placing a golf ball-sized chunk of cocaine in her daughter’s school backpack June 13 was released on $100,000 bail Monday by a U.S. District Court judge.

Maria Christina Torres, 39, a Colombian citizen, had been held by federal authorities on an alleged parole violation related to the drug charges, which are pending in state court.

U.S. District Judge A. Andrew Hauk set Torres’ bail and scheduled a hearing on the violation July 11. She was on parole from her conviction for failing to report currency she attempted to take out of the country.

In February, 1985, Torres was detained by U.S. Customs agents at Los Angeles International Airport when she attempted to board a South America-bound plane carrying $146,000 in undeclared cash.

The state charges against Torres include possession of cocaine for sale and felony child-endangerment. Torres’ 7-year-old daughter thought the cocaine she found in her backpack was candy or sugar and shared it with friends at Canoga Park Lutheran School, authorities said. None of the children were harmed. Torres was arrested and freed on $100,000 bond shortly after the incident.

She was arrested by federal authorities June 16 for allegedly violating the terms of her parole by sending her daughter to school with cocaine and for possessing an illegal drug on another occasion.