10 KIDS TAKEN FROM FAMILIES; INVESTIGATORS IN MOJAVE CLAIM NEGLECT.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

Ten children were taken from three Mojave families in the first week of July by investigators who found them abandoned, sick or living in dangerous or filthy conditions, Kern County sheriff's officials said.

The children, ranging from newborns to 12-year-olds, were left with no food and water. One infant was in a hospital, addicted to cocaine.

``It looks like we're having a crime wave,'' said Senior Deputy Ron Austin. ``But I think people are more aware and reporting it more frequently.''

In the worst of the cases, an 11-pound 7-month-old who had been born with tumors in its brain and thyroid gland was near death at the Kern Medical Center. The baby has since been transferred to UCLA Medical Center, listed in poor condition.

Officials said the 33-year-old mother, whose 11 other children were put up for adoption, had not brought the infant to a doctor since birth, until taking it to a hospital July 7. The mother disputes that, and authorities are checking with local doctors.

``The mother is claiming that she did visit the doctor and was feeding the baby,'' Austin said. ``The tumor of the thyroid gland was burning all of its calories. The tumor was growing and the baby wasn't.''

According to a report by sheriff's officials, the infant would not have survived another week. The baby is being withheld from the mother for its own protection.

A baby born July 4 was taken into protective custody after it arrived three weeks prematurely and under the influence of cocaine, officials said.

``Obviously, the mother was using cocaine up to 72 hours before the birth of this child,'' Austin said. ``The mother also had cocaine in her bloodstream.''

Bernadette Smith, 29, of Mojave was arrested on suspicion of willful cruelty to a child three days later at her Mojave home. The woman has a long arrest record.

``We have 43 documented arrests,'' said Austin, adding that Smith has been arrested on suspicion drug offenses, assaults, batteries, property crimes and prostitution. ``Some of her children were conceived from her prostitution.''

Three other children ages 3, 2 and 1 who were living with Smith were taken into protective custody. Smith has had 10 children, most of them in foster care, officials said.

The newborn is now in the care of foster parents and is recovering, Austin said.

Another mother was arrested July 1 when the father of her five children reported the youngsters were left unattended by the woman and her boyfriend, investigators said. Their home was filthy and had no running water.

Deputies said the home was filled with dirty dishes, debris and decaying food.

According to a sheriff's report, ``the only edible food were five eggs, an open package of bacon and a 3/4 gallon of milk.''

Officials said the children, ages 7 months, 2, 3, 5 and 9, were sick.

``They were coughing and had fevers,'' Austin said. ``They all had colds.''

The children have since been placed in foster care and are doing well, he said.

The mother, Cynthia Rodriguez, 27, and John Nicholson, 28, were arrested on suspicion of child endangerment later that day when they returned home.