20 Children and 20 Dogs Removed from Uninhabitable Victorville Home

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VICTORVILLE – Five Victorville women were arrested on Thursday after they were located in an uninhabitable home with 20 children and 20 dogs.

Deputies from the Victorville station responded to a home on the 15800 block of Eto Camino Road to assist the Department of Children and Family Services in removing children from the home. “My understanding is that all of the minors belonged to the suspects arrested,” said Victorville Sheriff’s Station spokeswoman Mara Rodriguez. “At least three of the women were mothers to one or more of the minors.”

The home posed several health and safety concerns and there was an insufficient amount of food for the 5 adults and 20 children living in the home, officials said. They also found that there were not adequate sleeping conditions and the home was without electricity or gas. Sheriff’s officials described the carpet, walls, and furniture as being in “severe disrepair”.

Code Enforcement found black mold in the home and found the home to be uninhabitable. A total of 20 dogs were removed from the home, two of these dogs deceased and none having access to water.

All 20 juveniles ages, 2 ½ months to 17-years-old were removed from the home and placed in protective custody. The five female adults booked into the West Valley Detention Center.

Matosha Jenell Martinez, 35 and Virginia Mann, 61 were booked for under the influence of a controlled substance and child cruelty. Rodriguez confirmed that Mann is not the mother to any of the 20 juveniles. She also said that it is unknown if she is somehow related to any of the minors or their mothers.

Cherish Sashaigen Lewis, 22, Dajanet Porshai Smith, 25, and Thereca Lanette Griffin, 42, were booked for child cruelty. All five are being held in lieu of $100,000 bail and are scheduled to appear at the Victorville Superior Court Tuesday afternoon.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the Victorville Police Department at (760) 241-2911. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.

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