Woman charged after two-year-old rushed to hospital after ingesting narcotics

Shore News Network

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of bartender Mariel Devargas, 23, of Fair Lawn on a child endangerment charge. The arrest was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the Fair Lawn Police Department under the direction of Chief Glenn Cauwels.

On Thursday, August 26, 2021, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding an unresponsive two-year-old child who was brought to Hackensack University Medical Center. Upon medical evaluation, it was determined that the child tested positive for the ingestion of illegal controlled dangerous substances. An investigation was initiated by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Fair Lawn Police Department.

As a result of the investigation, on Friday, September 3, 2021, Mariel Devargas was arrested and charged with one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a. Devargas was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending her first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court.

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Prosecutor Musella states that the charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


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