O.C. Let Mexican Consulate Help at Least 2 Girls to Marry

On at least two occasions, Orange County social workers have arranged to release girls under their protection to the Mexican Consulate so they could get married, county officials said Wednesday.

Those girls were among the 15 pregnant adolescents in protective custody whom social workers helped to marry or resume living with the adult men who impregnated them. The practice was first revealed by The Times in an article 2 1/2 weeks ago.

An official from the county Social Services Agency confirmed that girls have been released from the Orangewood Children’s Home for abused and neglected children into the custody of the Mexican Consulate.

At least two pregnant girls released to the custody of the Mexican Consulate were subsequently married, county officials said. Deputy Dist. Atty. Charles Middleton said two such arrangements impacted the ability of his office to prosecute the girls’ adult sex partners on felony charges of unlawful sex with a minor.

Nonetheless, prosecutors secured misdemeanor convictions against Juan Medina, 21, of Santa Ana, who impregnated a 14-year-old girl, and Maximo Hernandez, 27, of Santa Ana, who impregnated a 16-year-old girl. They both received three years’ probation.