DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE ANNOUNCES CHARGES AGAINST 14-YEAR-OLD’S MOTHER, OFELIA GARCIA ORTEGA, FOLLOWING INVESTIGATION INTO DEATH OF INFANT

Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced today that Ofelia Garcia Ortega has been charged following an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a premature infant found deceased on August 1, 2026, along the side of a roadway near an agricultural field.

The infant's mother, Jane Doe, was 14 years old at the time of the infant's death. Jane Doe is a victim of sexual assault. The investigation determined that Jane Doe had been sexually assaulted by her biological father, Sergio Perez, and that Perez is the father of the infant. Perez has been charged with sexual assault offenses arising from his abuse of Jane Doe and remains wanted in connection with those charges.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the infant's death also examined the conduct of Jane Doe's mother, Ofelia Garcia Ortega. Investigators determined that Ortega put Jane Doe to work in agricultural fields at age 13 using falsified documentation. Ortega also allowed Jane Doe to drive without a license and allowed her to completely remain out of school for many months.

Ortega has been charged with two felony counts of California Penal Code section 470b (displaying or possessing a forged identification card), one misdemeanor count of Penal Code section 273a(b) (permitting a child to suffer or be endangered), and one misdemeanor count of Penal Code section 272 (contributing to the delinquency of a minor).

Ortega was arrested on October 6, 2026 and will be arraigned in court on October 7, 2026 in Department 1 at 1:30pm.