Multiple Charges Filed Against Mom Accused Of Choking Daughter, 5

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office on Thursday filed felony assault, battery and child abuse charges against a Sebastopol woman who allegedly choked her 5-year-old daughter in a vehicle Tuesday. Melody Eleni Loukas, 39, did not enter pleas to the charges, and she will have a mental competency exam by a doctor before her next court appearance Tuesday morning.

Loukas is being held in Sonoma County Jail under $250,000 bail. The complaint against her alleges the assault and child abuse were likely to cause great bodily injury and the battery likely to cause serious injury.

Sebastopol police said Loukas' sister reported Loukas was possibly impaired in a vehicle at state Highway 116 and Berry Lane around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday. She said Loukas might have struck her daughter in the face while she was under the influence of a drug at a Berry Lane residence before she fled in a vehicle, police said.

Loukas returned to the Berry Lane residence with her daughter as police were searching for her vehicle. They arrived and contacted Loukas and her daughter in the vehicle.

The girl's face was red and swollen, had dark bruises around her eyes and red marks around her neck. Loukas allegedly admitted choking her daughter until she passed out and did not give a motive for the assault, police said.

The girl was taken to the emergency room of Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital and then was transported to the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland. Police said she is expected to survive her injuries.

The judge Thursday ordered Loukas not to contact her daughter, who is with Child Protective Services.

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— Bay City News Service