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Beaverton Amber Alert case: Mother arraigned on custodial interference, child neglect charges

Mari Martinez was arraigned Friday in Hillsboro after her 3-year-old son was found safe following a multistate Amber Alert. Prosecutors also allege she left the child unattended in a hot tub days earlier; she was released on $50,000 bail with GPS monitoring and other restrictions.

Beaverton Amber Alert case: Mother arraigned on custodial interference, child neglect charges
Mari Martinez was arraigned Friday at the Washington County Courthouse in Hillsboro on charges stemming from a custody dispute and a multistate search for her 3-year-old son, who was found safe Thursday, according to court records and police information cited in court. Martinez faces charges of second-degree custodial interference, second-degree child neglect and reckless endangerment. She posted $50,000 bail and was ordered to remain under house arrest with GPS monitoring and to follow no-contact restrictions. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 16. Police said Martinez took her son after picking him up from a babysitter Tuesday, following a custody hearing with her former husband earlier that day. An Amber Alert was issued Wednesday. Although the alert was mistakenly canceled that night, police continued searching and found the boy unharmed Thursday at a friend’s home, according to the account presented in court. Officers located Martinez in Lake Oswego, not far from her son, and arrested her. The child-neglect and reckless-endangerment allegations concern an incident on Sept. 29. Prosecutors, citing surveillance footage, said Martinez left the boy unattended in a hot tub, where he became submerged several times and struggled to breathe. They allege she did not promptly help him after becoming aware of the danger. The incident led to a temporary custody order granting custody to the child’s father; court proceedings described the boy as being in “immediate danger” while with his mother. The custodial-interference charge is tied to the events that prompted the Amber Alert. The charges are allegations, and Martinez has not been found guilty.

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