News & Columns > G.T. Houts > Sugarloaf Woman Arraigned on Child Endangerment Charges (Update)

Sugarloaf Woman Arraigned on Child Endangerment Charges (Update)

Deputies Find Three Unattended Juveniles in Locked Residence

By G.T. Houts
Thursday, November 12, 2009

Update - Thursday 4:05 a.m.

Sugarloaf, CA - A 24-year-old Sugarloaf woman has been arraigned on three felony counts of child endangerment with bail remaining at $100,000.

Judge Brian McCarville presided over the arraignment of Ellesse Michele Shampo and set a disposition/reset hearing for Monday, November 23 at 8:30 a.m. in Department S-23.

Shampo entered a not-guilty plea to all three counts of child endangerment relating to an incident November 4 when deputies found three juveniles unattended in a home in the 100 block of San Bernardino Avenue in Sugarloaf.

A neighbor reported the children — 7 months, 2 years and 3 years — were screaming and no adult appeared to be present at the home.

Defense Attorney James Boyd was retained by Shampo and a copy of the complaint and discovery was given to the defense counsel on November 9.

Original Story

Sugarloaf, CA - A report of unsupervised juveniles screaming inside a residence in the 100 block of San Bernardino Avenue in Sugarloaf brought a response from deputies at the Big Bear Sheriff's Station. Eventually the call led to the arrest of a 24-year-old woman on child endangerment charges.

The front door of the residence was locked and no one answered the door about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to a media advisory issued by deputies, and officers had to gain entry to the residence through an unlocked window.

Once inside, deputies discovered there were no adults present in the home but there were three juveniles — ages 7 months, 2 years, and 3 years old.

During their investigation, deputies determined there was no sign of forced entry into the home, nor was there any evidence that a struggle had taken place either inside or outside the residence.

The original caller had told officers the mother of the children — identified as Ellesse Michelle Shampo, 24 — had allegedly left the residence in her vehicle between 1:30 and 2 p.m.

Child Protective Services (CPS) was summoned to the residence and the three youngsters were taken into the care and custody of CPS officials.

Shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday, Shampo returned to the residence where she was taken into custody without incident.

Shampo, who is scheduled for arraignment on the felony child endangerment charge November 9 in San Bernardino County Superior Court, was booked at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. She was held on $100,000 bail.