Children allegedly abducted in San Joaquin County found safe; parents arrested
STOCKTON - The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office says three kids who were allegedly kidnapped by their parents and believed to be in "substantial danger," have been found safe.
According to the sheriff's office, the children, ages 9, 11, and 16, were supposed to be surrendered to Child Protective Services due to ongoing "substantial danger to their physical and emotional health," but their mother, Karri Dominguez, 35, did not show up with them as scheduled.
Dominguez and the children's father, Michael Pinon, were wanted for parental abduction, child endangerment, and a violation of a court order.
At 1:15 a.m. Monday, a deputy on patrol stopped a car with expired registration in the area of Main Street and Olive Avenue in Stockton, the sheriff's department said on Facebook. The father of the children, Michael Pinon, 49, was in the passenger seat of the vehicle and was taken into custody. The driver of the vehicle, 36-year-old Laura Burkett, was also arrested and booked on a warrant.
Shortly after 11 a.m., detectives and patrol deputies say they found the missing children in a home in the 17000 block of Stone Celler Way in Lathrop. The children's mother was also in the home. The sheriff's department says methamphetamines, meth pipes, and other drugs were in the house within reach of the children.
Two other children and two more adults were also inside the home at the time. Lathrop Police responded, and took over that portion of the investigation.
Pinon and Dominguez were booked into jail for child abduction, child abuse, and disobeying a court order. Their children have been placed in the care of CPS, who is working to place them with family.
