Court briefs

hearing delayed

The Redwood City woman arrested after her newly delivered baby girl was found dead in a trash dumpster last fall will learn in late July if she’ll stand trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment.

Hilda J. Figueroa, 30, has pleaded not guilty but a preliminary hearing on the evidence was once again delayed Friday because a prosecution witness was unavailable.

Figueroa told San Mateo Medical Center staff Nov. 30 she was several months pregnant but miscarried at her home. Figueroa claimed she flushed the stillborn and premature fetus down the toilet.

After an exam proved Figueroa was likely lying, Redwood City police detectives went to her home in the 600 block of Buckeye Street and discovered her plastic-wrapped child in the trash dumpster.

She then admitted she had concealed her pregnancy and secretly gave birth at home the previous day.

She said the baby was dead at birth because she never saw it draw breath before setting it in the dumpster.

Initial autopsy results showed air in the lungs, a sign she was born alive and drew at least one breath. Prosecutors, believing the child’s death can be linked to Figueroa’s actions, charged her with involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment.

Further tests on the placenta turned up signs of an infection which may have sent the baby into shock and caused it to die shortly after birth.

Figueroa is free from custody on a $100,000 bail bond. She returns to court July 27.

Not guilty plea in ecstasy dealing case

A 20-year old South San Francisco man accused of using his teenager girlfriend to sell ecstasy at a high school pleaded not guilty Friday and will stand trial in July.

Ezekial Michael Soto is charged with distributing ecstasy, selling a controlled substance to a minor on school grounds and employing a minor for an unlawful transaction.

He pleaded not guilty in Superior Court Friday and was ordered back for trial July 31, according to court records clerks.

South San Francisco police arrested Soto May 16 after his 17-year-old girlfriend reportedly sold ecstasy at South San Francisco High School. A 16-year-old student tried killing herself by taking eight of the pills reportedly sold by Soto’s girlfriend.

After the overdose, police watched Soto’s home and ultimately apprehended the couple. A search of Soto’s car revealed seven bags of marijuana, a scale, packaging material and cash, according to police.

The girl was reportedly carrying metal knuckles.

She was booked into juvenile hall. Soto remains in custody in lieu of $210,000 bail.

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