No Charges Filed Yet In Santa Rosa's Mom Alleged Attack Of School Bully
SONOMA COUNTY (CBS SF) -- Sonoma County prosecutors today again delayed a decision on whether to file charges against a Santa Rosa woman accused of injuring an 11-year-old schoolboy who allegedly bullied her daughter.
Chief Deputy District Attorney William Brockley said the investigation of the incident involving 30-year-old Delia Garcia-Bratcher is ongoing and "multiple witnesses" still must be interviewed.
"Summer is making it difficult because the kids are out of school," Brockley said.
He said he expects to have a filing decision by the next court date on July 17.
The delay drew another rebuke from Ben Adams, the attorney for Garcia-Bratcher.
"I'm annoyed. This is giving additional worry and stress to my client," Adams told reporters outside the courtroom this morning.
Garcia-Bratcher was arrested on suspicion of felony inflicting injury on a child. Sonoma County sheriff's officials said she went to Olivet Elementary School on Willowside Road west of Santa Rosa around noon on May 16 to confront the boy about bullying her daughter.
Garcia-Bratcher allegedly grabbed the boy by the throat in front of witnesses, including her son who pointed out the boy to her, and threatened him about bullying her daughter, according to the sheriff's office.
Outside the courtroom today, Garcia-Bratcher again denied that she touched the boy.
"I'm just going to have to fight for my rights. I have a lot of prayers and support. Our summer is kind of ruined," she said.
Her fiance, who is the girl's father and declined to give his name, said, "It's been real rough on our family."
The schoolboy had red marks consistent with being grabbed on the neck by an adult and school staff photographed the red marks as soon as they became aware of the incident, sheriff's officials said.
No adults witnessed the incident but numerous children were present at the time, according to the sheriff's office.
In a subsequent press release, sheriff's officials said they were unable to find a "nexus" between Garcia-Bratcher's daughter and the 11-year-old boy and that they were unable to determine if bullying ever occurred between the two.
Adams said after Garcia-Bratcher's first court appearance on May 22 that he had exculpatory evidence that the boy made up the story.
"She is adamant she never laid a hand on him and she didn't (confront) the wrong boy. This boy is lying," Adams said in May.
Adams said this morning the district attorney's office has a report showing his client is innocent.
"The state is not going to get a conviction," Adams said.
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