Mother Says Friend Put Drug in Backpack

A Topanga Canyon woman, charged with placing a chunk of cocaine in her daughter’s school backpack, Tuesday identified the man who she claims placed the drug in the child’s book bag.

Maria Torres, 40, testified in Van Nuys Superior Court that Denny Meyers, a longtime friend, admitted to her that he had put the cocaine in the the backpack. Torres said the backpack was in the car when she loaned it to Meyers the day before the drug was found.

Torres offered no explanation as to why Meyers put the drug in the backpack.

Torres also testified that Meyers was in Kansas. Although the defendant gave authorities a phone number where Meyers could be reached, she said she did not have an address for him.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Tracy J. Watson said later that even if authorities could locate Meyers, she could not force him to testify because of his “rights against self-incrimination.”

Torres is accused of hiding the cocaine in her 7-year-old daughter’s backpack, which the youngster took with her to Canoga Park Lutheran School on June 13. Police were called to the school after Torres’ daughter and eight other students tasted the powdery substance. None were injured.

Torres was arrested that same afternoon when she came to pick up her daughter at the school.

The defendant, a Colombian citizen, is charged with child endangerment and possession of cocaine for sale. If convicted, she could be sentenced to seven years in prison.