Palm Springs Parents Arrested, Face Child Neglect, Drug Charges

UPDATE 8/11/2020:

According to John Hall, a spokesperson for the District Attorney, both of the Vandermoons “pled to the court in January 2013. A plea to the court means you plead guilty to all counts. We objected but the court accepted the pleas from both defendants.

Both were sentenced the same day to 48 months of formal probation. Brian also was sentenced to 180 days in the electronic monitoring program and Taylor to 90 days in the same program.

In 2017, the court granted Taylor’s motion to have the charge reduced to a misdemeanor under Health and Safety Code 11361.8 which allows for that under a change in the law after the previous sentencing. So it appears that case was reduced not dismissed.

Last month, the court granted Brian’s motion under Penal Code section 1203.4 to have the case dismissed. That motion allows for the possible dismissal of charges because a defendant has completed their sentence.”

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

The parents of a 4-year-old boy were arrested by sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday and now face neglect and drug-related charges.

Sgt. Alan Meservey said deputies responded to reports of a child found wandering around Sterling Avenue at 9 a.m. in the Windy Point area of North Palm Springs.

The person who called told dispatchers he wasn’t able to contact the boy’s parents.

“When deputies arrived, they found the child suffering from what appeared to be an old, but significant head wound,” Meservey said. “The child was transported to Desert Regional Hospital in Palm Springs for treatment and for an examination.”

“He’s known to come out of the house on his own, but he usually comes over here and plays with my grandson,” said Jennene Roberts, a neighbor who spoke with News Channel 3’s Philippe Djegal.

Investigators learned the child had been attacked and bitten by the family dog in November and had been treated by doctors, but his parents had not sought any follow-up care.

“I didn’t know he had an infection in his head — that’s sad,” said Roberts. “No child should suffer.”

Tuesday, deputies eventually located the child’s parents, who they said were under the influence of illicit drugs, and obtained a search warrant of their home.

Inside, Meservey said they found the remnants of an illegal marijuana growing operation in a bedroom, along with equipment that could be used to manufacture other illicit drugs.

“The home was extremely unkempt and contained no fresh food. It was unsafe for any occupation, especially that of children,” he said.

Brian, 30, and Taylor, 26, Vandermoon were both arrested for felony child endangerment and neglect, manufacturing a controlled substance and other drug and weapons-related charges. They were booked at Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, where bail was set at $100,000.00.

Their 4-year-old son was placed into custody with Riverside County Child Protective Services.