Although Clement and Bom had declined to comment at the time, Patricias perspective becomes clearer in the docuseries when she breaks down upon being investigated by the DAs office and says that she had nothing to do with the death of Gabriel Fernandez. Social workers Stefanie Rodriguez, Patricia Clement, Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt were ordered today to stand trial on falsifying records and child abuse charges involving the death of Gabriel Fernandez, an 8-year-old Palmdale boy who died in 2013 after prolonged child abuse. Her boyfriend at the time, Isauro Aguirre, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. La madre de Gabriel, Pearl Sinthia Fernndez, fue condenada a cadena perpetua por su participacin en el deceso de su hijo. Gabriel's mother, Pearl Fernandez, and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, were both charged and convicted of first degree murder with special circumstances of torture. "Over the years, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services has taken significant steps to mitigate risk and improve our capacity countywide in order to best serve vulnerable children and families and as a department we remain committed to ensuring that reform continues," the agency said. $522/sqft. In 2016, they were each charged with one felony count of child abuse. Fernandez is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Instead, they seek to close loopholes in the justice system because the law is not on their side in this case. May 21, 2022 . She has also studied questions at the intersection of social media and social justice, with research on topics including feminist hashtags, social work's social media response to COVID-19, social media platforms used by political extremists (such as Gab), and disinformation impacting Black and brown communities. They were accused of failing to protect Gabriel and falsifying public records. The charges, failing to protect Gabriel and falsifying public records, against the social workers were dismissed. Los trabajadores sociales Stefanie Rodrguez y Patricia Clement, as como sus supervisores, Kevin Bom y Gregory Merritt, fueron acusados de un delito grave de abuso infantil y un delito grave de falsificacin de registros pblicos despus de que el nio muri en mayo de 2013. Merritt sat down with The Atlantic for a long-form interview in 2018, in whichhe expressed guilt for Gabriel's death but said,I dont think theres anything else I could have done." You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. salary. Read More: Where Was Gabriels Siblings Now? Fernandez's death sparked a barrage of criticism of thecountyDepartment of Children and Family Services and served as a warning to child protective workers everywhere who might ignore signsof child abuse. Most recently this includes exploring the beautiful Northwest on her ebike. The 2021 update includes language that addresses the importance of professional self-care. Naturally, the social workers were in a tough spot, since everyone believed that heads had to roll for what happened to Gabriel, and it was their heads on the line. "Over the years, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services has taken significant steps to mitigate risk and improve our capacity countywide in order to best serve vulnerable children and families and as a department we remain committed to ensuring that reform continues.". Los trabajadores sociales Stefanie Rodrguez y Patricia Clement, as como sus supervisores, Kevin Bom y Gregory Merritt, fueron acusados de un delito grave de abuso infantil y un delito grave de. However, all four former social workers are scheduled to return to a Los Angeles courtroom on March 23. In 2017, social workers Stefanie Rodriguez, Patricia Clement, and supervisors Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt, were charged with child abuse and falsifying public records. While we prevailed against those who inflicted the injuries, the appellate court rejected our theory of criminal liability against the social workers, who my office believed had a duty to protect Gabriel. Two social workers, Stefanie Rodriguez and Patricia Clement, as well as two of their supervisors, Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt, were each charged with one felony count of child abuse and falsifying public records. Gabriel Fernandez, 8, of Palmdale, Calif., died after years of abuse from his mother and her boyfriend. More than just a teenage pastime, social media users include individuals and organizations, across a broad range of social positionalities. The judge, George Lomeli, called the boy's death "foreseeable" when he denied the motion. Despite multiple visits to the home of Pearl Fernandez and Isauro Aguirre, and after multiple parties shared their concerns about Gabriel's wellbeing to child services, social workers left Gabriel in the custody of the mother found responsible for the murder. SLAIN ILLINOIS BOY, 5, TELLS MOTHER I DONT EVER SEE YOU AGAIN IN HEARTBREAKING TAPE HEARD AT MOMS MURDER TRIAL. Four social workers: Kevin Bom, Greg Merritt, Stefanie Rodriguez and Patricia Clement were charged with child endangerment which resulted in death, and falsification of public documents. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Stefanie Rodriguez, 35; Patricia Clement, 69; and their respective supervisors, Kevin Bom, 41; and Gregory Merritt, 64, were charged in 2016 with one felony count each of child abuse and falsifying public records in connection to the May 2013 death. We have got you covered in that regard. The 2nd District Court of Appeal advised that the lower court dismiss the charges against the social workers. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Social workers must be knowledgeable and mindful of the NASW Code of Ethics . Los cargos contra cuatro trabajadores sociales relacionados con el caso de Gabriel Fernndez, de 8 aos, quien fue torturado y asesinado por su madre y su novio, sern retirados el jueves, inform la oficina del fiscal de distrito del condado de Los ngeles. After reviewing the appellate ruling, I have decided that the best plan of action is to ask the court to de-publish the opinion. The docuseries is also an indictment of the entire system that failed Gabriel. I want to thank the dedicated deputy district attorneys who have worked diligently to pursue justice on behalf of Gabriel Fernandez, Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said in a statement provided to, The district attorney's office confirmed to. Prosecutors are holding four Los Angeles County social workers criminally responsible and have charged them with child abuse. She enjoys both developing curriculum for caregivers and delivering it in the classroom and online. Is Gabriel Fernandez's Mom, Pearl Fernandez, Dead? . In the small town of Ames, Iowa, high school freshman, Emily Rodriguez Jovel aspires to go down in history and change the world with her art. Email Stefanie Cavazos. She left a career in genetic res If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Netflix docu-series The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez tells the story of how he was tortured, and raised questions about the social system that was meant to protect him. However, justices in the 2nd District Court of Appeal in January said Lomeli should have granted the motion to dismiss the charges against the social workers. An autopsy revealed the boy had a fractured skull, multiple broken ribs and burns on his body. Both Pearl Fernandez and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, wereconvicted on a count of first-degree murder with Aguirre sentenced to death after jurors found Gabriel was viciously beaten to death in 2013after enduring horrendousabuse from his supposed caretakers. ", sentenced in June 2018 to life in prison without the possibility of parole. stefanie rodriguez social worker now. Two social workers, Stefanie Rodriguez and Patricia Clement, as well as two of their supervisors, Kevin Bom. This information is according to Los Angeles County payrolls for Merritt, one of the . Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! At one stage, one of her necrosed, blackened toes fell off in her hand. On March 28, an arrest warrant was issued for Stefanie Rodriquez, Patricia Clement, Kevin Bom, and Gregory Merritt. Merritt also spokewith the docu-series, where he defended his handling of the case. Gabriel Fernandez died in May 2013 in Palmdale, north of Los Angeles, after he was brutally abused and tortured by his mother and her boyfriend. Hi I'm Stephanie! The four former social workers are due back in a Los Angeles courtroom on March 23, where the district attorney's office will notobject to a motion to dismiss the charges against them, the Antelope Valley Press reported. Stefanie Rodriguez, 34; Patricia Clement, 69; Kevin Bom, 40; and Gregory Merritt, 64, were charged with child abuse and falsifying public records.All four were fired from the Los Angeles County . "I dont think theres anything else I could have done," he told the publication. Journal of Social Work Values & Ethics, Spring 2015, Vol. The petitioners' actions here prevented the system from working in whatever way it might have had they done their jobs honestly, and offers no incentive for either DCFS or individual social workers to work to reform and repair the parts of the system that may fail the children it is intended to protect.". The four social workers who got caught up in the aftermath of Gabriels tragic demise are Stefanie Rodriguez and Patricia Clement, as well as supervisors Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt. Jenny Molloy, co-author of Hackney Child, matron in ITV's Bring Back Borstal, patron of BASW England. View contact information: phones, addresses, emails and networks. "There ought to be some criminal consequences," she told the news station. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. In January 2020, however, a California appeals court dismissed all charges against the four social workers, with a three-justice panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal issuing an opinion telling the lower court to drop the case. 'Bachelor' Spoilers 2023: Who Does Zach Pick? A UCLA graduate, she is originally from Duarte, Calif., and is a native Spanish speaker. We further conclude that the petitioners were not officers within the meaning of Government Code section 6200. average Los Angeles County Patricia Clement and Stefanie Rodriguez were discovered to be two of the social workers who had neglected their responsibility. But, by February, the prosecutors planned to drop charges against the four social workers, NBC Los Angeles reported. "Those of us who were working the case seem to have done what we could have done," Merritt toldthe filmmakers while leaving a hearing in the final episode of the docu-series "In my opinion, no crime was committed and I did not commit a crime.". But it was also noted that various figures in Gabriel's life like teachers and even a security guardreported abuse to the proper channels of Child Protective Services only for the pleas toapparently be ignored as the abuse ramped up. Later investigations revealed Rodriguez had never received information which showed Pearl Rodriguez had abused and neglected her other children. The role of social media in social work education is slowly expanding as social media infiltrates more of our daily lives. In an interview withThe Atlantic, back in 2018, Merritt stated that he did not believe he could have done anything more. Stefanie Rodriguez was the first person who looked into Gabriel's case, when his teacher put in a call about the possibility of Pearl beating Gabriel at home, for his in-school behavior. In January, the 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled that a lower courtshould have granted a defense motion to dismiss the case against the social workers. Moreover, revisions to Cultural Competence standard provide more explicit guidance to social workers. Jennifer Nied is the fitness editor at Womens Health and has more than 10 years of experience in health and wellness journalism. On Friday, December 20, the former Counting On star revealed she'd "chopped off" more than a foot of her long locks and she looks like a whole new woman. In 2016, Stefanie Rodriguez and Patricia Clement, two former LA County social workers, as well as two supervisors, Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt, were charged with one felony count each of child abuse and falsifying public records. Social worker Stefanie Rodriguez and other representatives of child protection agencies visited Gabriel's home on a number of occasions. "Allowing a social worker to evade liability for falsifying a public document would incentivize social workers to put their own interests in avoiding liability for their misdeeds above the purpose of the states child welfare statutory scheme, which is child safety," she wrote. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. So far, the social workers are going free. They each faced up to ten years in prison if found guilty. Four social workers charged in connection with his death had charged against them dismissed Thursday. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Las muertes por COVID-19 superan las 100.000 en California: Nadie previ esa cantidad de vctimas, El condado de Los ngeles terminar la emergencia de COVID-19 el 31 de marzo. The appellate ruling said the social workers"never had the requisite duty to control the abusersand did not have care or custody of Gabriel.". Stefanie Rodriguez, 35; Patricia Clement, 69; and their respective supervisors, Kevin Bom, 41; and Gregory Merritt, 64, were charged in 2016 with one felony count each of child abuse and. All Information about Stefanie Rodriguez Aguirre is still on death row. Manage Settings The district attorney's office confirmed to Oxygen.com that a motion for a rehearing of the appeals court decision was denied on Jan. 23 and the office will not appeal the case further. She also accepts social workers' use of Twitter for non-work-related, personal posts, as well. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. All rights reserved. The median salary for a social worker in the United States is $46, 270. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. According to Greg Merritt, a former DCFS Supervisor and one of the defendants in this case, the social workers that he was overseeing were dealing with an average of 30 cases at a time, and that number often got as high as 38. He is currently awaiting execution in San Quentin State Prison. Im not a believer in the death penalty so that was harsh for many, he told the East Bay Times. Business . Unique mansion-like home on a beautiful western lot on the shore of Lake Tuusulanjrvi! The case was the subject of a six-part Netflix documentary released earlier this year titled "The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez.". How we can kind of force more transparency, that part is ongoing. We further conclude that the petitioners were not officers within the meaning of Government Code section 6200," wrote Justice Francis Rothschild in a majority opinion,according to local reporting network Patch.com. Stefanie Rodriguez was the first person who looked into Gabriels case, when his teacher put in a call about the possibility of Pearl beating Gabriel at home, for his in-school behavior. Judge George Lomeli had previously denied a motion by defense attorneys to dismiss the charges against the social workers, saying they had demonstrated an improper regard for human life and a lack of vigilance.. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Children'S Social Worker Cuatro trabajadores sociales y sus abogados estn de pie durante un juicio relacionado con la muerte de Gabriel Fernndez, de 8 aos. The results revealed his risk was high, but the supervisor Merritt closed his case. $11,113 was received as benefits and The case was the subject of a Netflix documentary series in February, "The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez.". It was in limbo for a long time but in January 2020, the 2nd District Court of Appeal issued the directive to dismiss the charges against the social workers, saying, We conclude that the petitioners never had the requisite duty to control the abusers and did not have care or custody of Gabriel for purposes of Penal Code section 273a, subdivision (a). A lower trial court had even gone so far as to deny the motion of dismissing charges. The field of social work, with its emphasis on providing support to those in need, has also learned to navigate the world of social media, leveraging its best aspects to connect members of the social work community. In a dissenting opinion, Associate Justice Victoria Gerrard Chaney agreed that the four should not be charged with child neglect but instead aspublic officers. Pearl Fernandez was sentenced to life in prison in 2018 and Aguirre received the death penalty. salary, "It was horrible, absolutely horrible. Social workers may benefit from understanding these new forms of communication, including the advantages and disadvantages of each platform. Pay Here are 10 you cant miss, Review: A reimagined Secret Garden fails to flower anew at the Ahmanson Theatre, Opinion: No, California doesnt have a population crisis, Environmentalists sue to overturn San Diego County climate plan, Jaguars, narcos, illegal loggers: One mans battle to save a Guatemalan jungle and Maya ruins, LAPD should stop handling many non-emergency calls, police union says, Brothers who crashed a wedding reception are convicted of beating the groom to death, Column: Trump tormentor, whiteboard wizard its the brand that matters in California Senate race. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. According to Oxygen, the Los Angeles prosecutor has said she will not ask the state Supreme Court to review the decision. Social work practice manager in a court work and children looked after service from 2015 to 2017. Social workers Stefanie Rodriguez and Patricia Clement, and their supervisors, Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt, were charged with child abuse and falsifying public records. Negligent child welfare workers may face prison time in connection with the death of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. A judge on Wednesday dismissed charges against four social workers accused of missing red flags and failing to protect an 8-year-old Los Angeles area boy who was killed by his mother and her boyfriend after years of torture and mistreatment. Both were soon fired from the department, as were their supervisors, Gregory Merritt and Kevin Bom. Social Worker: 107 S DIVISION ST SPOKANE, WA 99202 (509) 838-4651: 1033275649: MS. JEANA N PAUL MA Individual: Marriage & Family Therapist: 107 S DIVISION ST Aguirre pleaded not guilty, however, the jury found him guilty and recommended he be sentenced to death. Moriah Escobar 3rd Grade Teacher. LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey continues to stand by the charges. The social worker Garcia contacted, Stefanie Rodriguez, 31, another social worker, Patricia Clement, 66, and two of their supervisors, Kevin Bom, 37, and Gregory Merritt, 61, are now facing charges of one felony count each of child abuse and falsifying records in relation to this case. On inSocialWork, you can discover how social workers are leveraging technology in creative ways to build upon client strengths and increase the impact of their agencies. The thing she loves most about working at the Alliance, is connecting with caregivers. Ultimately, the social workers Stefanie Rodriguez, 34, and Patricia Clement, 69, and two supervisors, Kevin Bom, 40, and Gregory Merritt, 64, all faced charges in connection with the death of Gabriel, with prosecutors alleging they minimized evidence of Gabriel's abuse. He was repeatedly beaten, starved, tied up and made to sometimes sleep in a cabinet, authorities said. Legal Statement. There is, therefore, no probable cause to hold them on charges of violating those laws and the trial court should have granted the motions to dismiss. Suite 102. 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Little Gabriel Fernandez died at the hand of his mother and stepdad, Gregory Merritt was a social worker involved in Gabriel's case, Netflix's The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez explores tragic reason behind his death. 2 ac lot. The criminal case against the four appears to be dead in the water, with Los Angeles County's top prosecutor saying she will not ask California's Supreme Court to review the appellate court decision. In the publics desire to see vengeful justice meted out, after Gabriels death, it is possible that Clement, Bom, Rodrigues, and Merritt, were all placed in the crosshairs. Two social workers, Stefanie Rodriguez and Patricia Clement, as well as two of their supervisors, Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt, were each charged with one felony count of child abuse and falsifying public records. Source: Los Angeles Times. (347) 479-2552. . OPEN GOV US GOV US. IE 11 is not supported. According to the NASW Code of Ethics (1999), dual relationships occur "when social workers relate to clients in more than one relationship, whether professional, social, or business" (p. 9). See the top reviewed local media and bloggers in Tuusula, Uusimaa, Finland on Houzz. A charge had also been made that the supervisors, Bom and Merritt knew or should have known about the reports that were contradictory to evidence of Gabriels worsening condition at home. One of the supervisors, Merritt, told The Atlantic he felt extreme guilt for what happened to Gabriel. I want to thank the dedicated deputy district attorneys who have worked diligently to pursue justice on behalf of Gabriel Fernandez, Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said in a statement provided to Oxygen.com. single mother, former social-pages star and digital entrepreneur wound up battling severe neurological complications in a Boston hospital, where she was given only a 2 per cent chance of survival. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Social workers for child, family, and school issues earned a median average wage of $42,120; healthcare social workers earned $51,930; social workers who handle mental health and substance . However, the case against the four took a turn earlier this year after a California appellate courtruled that a lowertrial court which denied a motion to dismiss the charges should have granted the defense's motion to dismiss the case against them, according to NBC Los Angeles. Stephanie joined the Alliance in 2015. If the case went to trial and Rodriguez, Clement, Bom, and Merritt had been found guilty, they could have faced up to 10 years in prison each. Judge George Lomeli dismissed charges against four social workers, Stefanie Rodriguez, Patricia Clement, Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt, linked to Gabriel Fernandezs killing. Social media are defined as applications and websites that allows users to share content, usually of their own making. Another caseworker had also used a computer program to estimate Gabriels likelihood of abuse, The Atlantic reported. Cundo terminar? Nearby Areas. "We have, in effect, encouraged DCFS and its social workers to cover their tracks if they stumble on the cracks in the system.". Stephanie Rodriguez is a provider established in Jersey City, New Jersey and her medical specialization is Social Worker with a focus in clinical with more than 7 years of experience. They weren't the only people involved or the only ones to go to court, though. Of this total $30,591 was received Heres What To Know, TikTok Loves These Tech Accessories From Amazon, Elizabeth Holmes' Kids: Her New Baby & Prison Time. The couple was convicted of Gabriel's murder, and .css-7qz8rz{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#f7623b;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:background 0.4s;transition:background 0.4s;background:linear-gradient(#ffffff, #ffffff 50%, #feebe7 50%, #feebe7);-webkit-background-size:100% 200%;background-size:100% 200%;}.css-7qz8rz:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-position:100% 100%;background-position:100% 100%;}Fernandez is currently serving a life sentence for her role, while Aguirre is on death row for his. and 46 Prosecutors said at the trial that Aguirre "liked torture" and abused Gabriel because he thought the boy was gay. .css-26w0xw{display:block;font-family:NationalBold,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-26w0xw:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-26w0xw{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.28598rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.575rem;line-height:1.1;margin-bottom:-0.5rem;}}How To Avoid Unexpected Health Bills, Super Chic Under $50 Home Decor Finds On Amazon, A Timeline Of All This Hailey And Selena Drama, Where Is Elizabeth Holmes Now? I started in West Sussex as a student in 2009 and worked my way up to Practice Manager. % lower than Gregory Merritt, one of the social workers initially charged in Gabriel Fernandez's death, spoke on camera with the Netflix documentary. average children's social worker Dr. Rodriguez earned her Doctorate in Education in addition to her Masters of Social Work and Bachelor of Science degrees. Market data provided by Factset. Social work practice involves the understanding of human development, behavior and the social, economic and cultural institutions and interactions. Ve el perfil completo en LinkedIn y descubre los contactos y empleos de Stephanie en empresas similares.