Harris

Defendant and her codefendant Beverly Blackston were charged by information with a violation of Penal Code section 273a (endangering the life or health of children). They both pled not guilty and waived trial by jury. Defendant was found guilty as charged, and Mrs. Blackston was found not guilty. After defendant was sentenced to serve one year in the county jail sentence was suspended and she was placed on probation for three years. Her appeal is from the judgment.

On December 15, 1963, Officer Walker went to defendant’s residence in response to a telephone complaint from one of her neighbors. After stating the reasons for his visit he was admitted by the defendant. Upon entering, he observed five or six children between the front room and the bedroom. The defendant told him three of the children were her own. Their names were Andrea, Artie and Crystal. Three others in the house belonged to Mrs. Blackston.

Officer Walker observed an extremely filthy residence littered with dirt and debris and dirty clothes. Old food was mashed on the floor. There was a sickening odor of defecation everywhere. Cockroaches of all sizes were in every room of the house, crawling on the walls and…