Huntington Woman Charged After Children Found Wandering in the Street
By Garrett Christensen on Monday, June 26th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
HUNTINGTON — (Release from the Baker County Sheriffs Office) On June 22, 2023 at approximately 10:21 a.m., Baker County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a report of an unresponsive female in Huntington. It was also reported that two small children were in the roadway and were believed to be associated with the female.
As Deputy Colton responded to the area, he was flagged down by a bystander who informed him the children had been taken to a local store and were being cared for. Deputy Colton then made contact with the female, identified as Victoria Patricia James (25 yoa), at her residence. James was confirmed to be the mother of both children. Throughout the contact, James exhibited signs of impairment.
During the investigation, it was determined that the children exited the house while James was sleeping on the couch. Idaho Power employees spotted the children crawling and walking through the intersection of East Jefferson Street and East 1st Street. They ran toward the children and stopped them approximately one foot from the steep ledge above the city park. Another bystander attempted to locate the children’s caregiver and went to a residence with an open front door. Upon entering the residence, he located James unresponsive on the couch. After several attempts to wake James were unsuccessful, they dialed 911.
James was charged with Child Neglect II (two counts) and Reckless Endangering (two counts). The Oregon Department of Human Services-Child Welfare Division was contacted to develop a case plan regarding care of the children.The Baker County Sheriff’s Office would like to commend the Idaho Power employees and the bystander for immediately taking action to keep these children safe as well those individuals that cared for the children until law enforcement arrived.
