Mom Arrested For 'Serious & Extensive' Abuse Of Son, 4

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA – A 22-year-old San Jacinto woman was in custody Thursday on suspicion of attempted homicide for allegedly assaulting her 4-year-old son as punishment.

Officers were dispatched to the 400 block of Main Street about 1 p.m. on Aug. 9 in response to a call about possible child abuse, said sheriff's Sgt. Robert Duckett. Arriving officers found the 4-year-old boy living at the residence was the victim of abuse and his mother was the suspect.

The little boy and his 2-year-old sibling were removed from the residence, and a forensic evaluation was carried out, Duckett said.

The investigation revealed the boy's mother, Jasmine Lopez, physically assaulted the boy as punishment and the abuse was "serious and extensive," Duckett said. Authorities didn't disclose the nature of the boy's injuries or the reason he was being punished.

On Tuesday, after learning of the forensic evidence, investigators arrested Lopez on suspicion of attempted homicide and felony child abuse, Duckett said. She was booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning in lieu of $1 million bail, according to online inmate records.

Anyone with information about this incident or incidents related to this investigation can call Investigator Fransik at the Hemet Sheriff’s Station, (951) 791-3400.

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--City News Service contributed to this report/Image via RivCo Sheriff