Convicted Gang Member Charged With Abusing Baby In OC

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — A 28-year-old convicted gang member was charged Wednesday with abusing a baby in Santa Ana.

Alfredo De La Sancha was charged with a felony count of child abuse and endangerment with a sentencing enhancement for causing great bodily injury on a child younger than 5.

De La Sancha was accused of abusing the baby on Saturday, according to the criminal complaint. Karina Romero, 27, was charged with a felony count of being an accessory after the fact.

De La Sancha did not enter a plea at his arraignment Wednesday, which was rescheduled for March 1 in the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.

Further details were not immediately available. Police and prosecutors did not immediately respond to requests for information.

De La Sancha pleaded guilty in August 2016 to possessing a gun in school zones, possession of a controlled substance while armed with a gun, participating in gang activity and possession of a gun by a probationer, all felonies.

De La Sancha pleaded guilty in September 2018 to possession of a gun by a felon, an active participant in a gang carrying a loaded gun in public, a convicted felon having a concealed gun on his person, being a prohibited person owning ammunition, possession of a gun in school zones and possession of drugs while armed with a gun, all felonies with sentencing enhancements for gang activity.