Inset: Viviana Ortiz-Lopez (Marion County Jail). Background: The 1300 block of SE 41st Court in Summerfield, Fla., where Ortiz-Lopez allegedly abused a baby (Google Maps).
A disturbing case involving a Florida babysitter has emerged, where the caregiver allegedly struck a baby, leaving the infant with facial bruises and recognizable slap marks. The accused has since entered a legal plea.
Viviana Ortiz-Lopez, aged 30, has opted for a no-contest plea to charges of child abuse not resulting in serious physical harm. With adjudication withheld, she was credited for the over 160 days already served in jail. Her sentencing includes five years of probation, coupled with an agreement not to look after any children other than her own.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit filed by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and reviewed by Law&Crime, the baby was found to have “significant bruising to the face.” The child’s father informed authorities that following the child’s pickup from Ortiz-Lopez’s residence at around 1 p.m. on March 10, his wife reported the visible injuries.
When questioned about the baby’s injuries, Ortiz-Lopez reportedly insisted that the child had harmed herself. Additionally, she allegedly advised the baby’s mother to provide mittens to prevent further self-infliction of injuries.
The mother brought the girl back home and took photos of the injuries. The father contacted the police and gave them the photos.
“In the photos I observed apparent bruising along the victim’s left cheek,” cops wrote. “I also observed four distinct red lines which would be consistent with a slap mark. On the victim’s nose, I observed swelling and more bruising which ran to underneath her eyes.”
According to the affidavit, the mother dropped the girl off at Ortiz-Lopez’s home in the 1300 block of SE 41st Court in Summerfield around 8 a.m. About five hours later, Ortiz-Lopez called the mom and told her to come pick the girl up “due to her non-stop crying and not allowing the other children at the location to sleep,” deputies wrote.
The defendant “sounded desperate for her to come to come get the victim,” the affidavit said. As the mother questioned Ortiz-Lopez about the bruising, she continued to insist the baby did it to herself, according to cops.
The baby had only been going to the defendant’s home for two days after being recommended by a mutual friend. After the incident, the mom called her friend, who said she had to pull her kids out because she suspected Ortiz-Lopez was hitting the kids. The friend said she didn’t contact cops because she was fearful of the defendant, according to the affidavit.
Doctors who examined the baby at the hospital concluded the injuries were likely inflicted by an adult.
Deputies had the mother call Ortiz-Lopez while they were listening in, but the defendant continued to say she didn’t hit the baby. In an interview with investigators, Ortiz-Lopez allegedly made several “contradictory statements,” first saying the baby was covered with a blanket and she didn’t see her at first when the mother dropped her off. Then, Ortiz-Lopez said she saw the baby rubbing her face with the blanket and that is what caused the bruises.
Ortiz-Lopez “never changed her attitude” and appeared “very calm” even though she was being accused of abusing a baby.
Deputies noted that the bruising on the baby’s face was roughly the size of the defendant’s hand.
The post Babysitter who smacked infant in the face ‘leaving 4 distinct red lines’ isn’t going to jail but her childcare days are over first appeared on Law & Crime.