Manassas woman’s jail time suspended in child’s death

By Amanda Stewart

Published: November 21, 2008

A Manassas woman pleaded guilty Thursday in Prince William Circuit Court to four misdemeanor child neglect charges stemming from the death of a 2-month-old infant.

Melandie Hernandez, 31, was originally charged with felony child neglect, but prosecutors reduced the charges to misdemeanors Thursday.

She was sentenced to 12 months in jail, with all jail time suspended, and four years of probation.

Hernandez, who then lived in Manassas Park, called 911 on March 19, after she found her son, Roberto, "unresponsive and blue in the face," according to an affidavit on file in Prince William Circuit Court.

The baby was transported to Prince William Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the affidavit states.

Hernandez said she put the baby down to sleep the night before in the king-sized bed she shared with him and her three other children, ages 1, 3 and 6, prosecutors said.

Hernandez said she checked on the baby at 9:45 a.m. and he appeared to be fine, but when she checked on him again half an hour later he was not breathing, court documents state.

Prosecutors said Thursday that the medical examiner's report concerning the cause of the baby's death was "inconclusive." The baby had pneumonia at the time of his death and that may have been a cause, prosecutors said.

While at Hernandez's house, Manassas Park police said they saw "a large quantity of cock-roaches," numerous dirty diapers and containers of decaying food throughout the house and in the room where the baby was found.

Hernandez' defense attorney, Jon Shields, said Hernandez is now "in full compliance" with orders from Manassas Park's Department of Social Services.

Staff writer Amanda Stewart can be reached at 703-878-8014.

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