Jailed Mother Maintains Innocence

The young Laguna Niguel mother arrested for fatally shooting her baby boy said through her legal team Saturday that she did not intend to harm her son.

“The first words out of her mouth were: ‘I did not murder my son,’ ” said Vince Rubalcava, a paralegal working for her defense, after visiting 20-year-old Shantae Molina at the Orange County Jail. Molina has been held without bail since her Thursday arrest.

“She’s afraid. She’s lonely. She’s crying and she doesn’t understand why this is happening,” he added.

Jail officials didn’t allow Molina’s mother and stepfather to visit her Saturday, citing “medical reasons.”

Molina’s mother, Olga, sat on a concrete planter in front of the jail with her head in her hands. The family has declined to speak about the case except to say through legal counsel that they believe Molina is innocent and that they are still grieving over the death of 8-month-old Armani Shyloh Contreras.

Molina was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder.

Armani died of a single gunshot wound to the head Oct. 16, after two operations at Children’s Hospital at Mission. Molina told police at the time that she accidentally fired the gun after grabbing it because she thought she heard a prowler outside. She called 911 in hysterics shortly before 1 p.m.

Police suspect Molina of the “willful, deliberate and premeditated killing” of her son.

Orange County sheriff’s and district attorney’s officials have refused to tell Molina’s lawyer what led them to accuse the young mother of first-degree murder, according to Rubalcava.

Rubalcava, who said he spoke to Molina for about 20 minutes Saturday in the presence of jail officials, said the young woman appeared shaken but in good health.

The Sheriff’s Department released no additional information on the case Saturday, said Lt. Dottie Ronan.

At the jail Saturday, Rubalcava again questioned why the Sheriff’s Department waited to arrest Molina until they knew her attorney, Eric Lampel, would be out of town.

“They were aware all along our client was available for surrender,” said Rubalcava. “I think they don’t have a case and they’re trying to shake something out of her.”

Molina is scheduled to be arraigned Monday.