Judge Won’t Waive Bail in Case of Abused Newborn

In a child-abuse case that has stunned residents and involves one of the county’s youngest-ever victims, a Municipal Court judge refused to waive bail for the accused parents Tuesday after viewing graphic photos of their bruised and burned 3-week-old son.

“The photographs of the baby demonstrate how bad this case truly was,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Jacquelyn Lacey.

As a result, Sheila Jackman, 31, and Carl Oliveri, 37, remain jailed in lieu of $500,000 bail. The Canyon Country couple are accused of attempted murder and aggravated mayhem, among other charges, in connection with the injuries suffered last month by their son Justin, whose cracked skull is expected to lead to permanent brain damage.

They also are charged with abusing three other children, ages 2, 5 and 8.

They have pleaded not guilty to all the charges involving their children, who became wards of the county when the couple was arrested Sept. 12.

Although Judge Alan Rosenfield refused to waive bail Tuesday during a hearing in Municipal Court, he also refused to raise it--as the prosecution had requested.

After the couple’s arrest, sheriff’s detectives seized drug paraphernalia at their home on Soledad Canyon Road, Lacey said after the hearing. Tests later showed that the items contained cocaine residue, but prosecutors lacked sufficient evidence to charge Jackman or Oliveri with drug-related offenses.

Lacey said witnesses’ statements demonstrate that the presence of drugs helped to create a climate for the alleged abuse. But she added that photos shown in court Tuesday suggest a pattern of beatings that were not strictly drug-induced.

“When you use drugs, it tends to bring out the worst in you. If you’re already an evil person, it just makes you worse,” Lacey said. “But it wasn’t like, ‘I snapped once and I beat him.’ In order to do this, it required some thought and some time.”

The photos showed burns on Justin’s feet and bruises on his head and torso.

Defense attorneys could not be reached for comment.