Chula Vista

The mother of a 5-year-old girl who accidentally shot a 2-year-old playmate was jailed Thursday for not reporting for a Probation Department interview before her sentencing for child endangerment.

Irma Molina, 28, was arrested on order of San Diego Municipal Judge Jesus Rodriguez at the request of Deputy Dist. Atty. Cathy Stephenson.

Her husband, Thomas Molina, 58, remains free on his own recognizance. The Chula Vista couple had pleaded guilty Jan. 9 to child endangerment, a felony.

Sentencing was re-scheduled for March 9. They could receive terms of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Irma Molina’s attorney, Judith Peters, told the judge the couple doesn’t have a phone so they had to call the probation department on pay phones. Probation officials referred the Molinas to other numbers, and the Molinas would eventually get disconnected, Peters said.

Stephenson said Irma Molina did appear unannounced at the Probation Department to be interviewed but arrived when the probation officer was not there.

The victim, Mary Ann Burns, had been in critical condition with a grave prognosis after the Thanksgiving shooting, but she improved and was able to speak. She is now out of the hospital.

The Molinas’ five children were taken from them and are living with relatives.