SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Santa Ana woman was charged with attempting to kidnap a newborn baby from her mother while posing as a social worker, according to the OCDA.
Sara Orozco Magana, 38, of Santa Ana was charged with one felony attempt of kidnapping of a child under the age of 14 and one felony account of attempted taking of a minor from a parent or legal custodian. Magana faces a maximum of 7 ½ years in state prison if convicted on all counts.
On June 7, 2019, Magana is accused of knocking on the door of a Santa Ana home, telling the new mother that she was from Social Services and that she needed to take the woman’s one-week-old son. Magana is accused of refusing to provide identification and when questioned by the baby’s mother, said that a doctor probably reported abuse.
Magana is accused of threatening to call the police if the woman did not give her the newborn. The woman refused and the victim’s sister recorded the woman, later identified as Magana, leaving the home.
The footage was later released by the Santa Ana Police Department in an attempt to identify the woman.
Magana was arrested after she came to the Santa Ana Police Department after seeing the footage on the news.
She was released from custody on June 10 after posting $100,000 bail. She is scheduled to be arraigned on July 8, 2019 in C57 at the Central Justice Center.
“The safety of our children is paramount,” said District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “The Orange County District Attorney’s Office would like to remind parents, especially the parents of newborns, to remain vigilant about anyone who is around your child.”
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has compiled useful safety tips to safeguard against infant abduction.
Deputy District Attorney Tammy Jacobs is prosecuting this case.
