Mother attacked with baby in her arms furious after charge against suspect dismissed – California county drops over 200 criminal cases due to lack of courtroom space

A California mother who was attacked six months ago while holding her 1-year-old child was outraged when she learned this week that the county dropped the charge against the suspect, Fox News Digital reported.

In May, Clarissa Guevara and her child were attacked by a female suspect in an apartment complex parking lot. A surveillance camera in the area captured the incident.

The suspect, a former friend of Guevara, received a misdemeanor child endangerment charge as a result of the attack. Guevara noted that the incident occurred because of a domestic dispute between the two women.

Guevara told KTTV-TV that she is still healing physically and emotionally from the traumatic assault.

"Hearing my child cry in my arms, it broke me as a mother," Guevara stated. "That scream I heard that day, I would never forget that screaming."

"She punched my daughter in the face," Guevara said. "My 1-year-old daughter."

On Monday, a Riverside County Superior Court judge dismissed the charge against the female suspect. The county blamed a backlog from COVID lockdowns, a shortage of judges, and a lack of courtroom space.

"I'm trying to figure out why she's not being held responsible for hitting a 1-year-old child," Guevara said. "I'm trying my hardest to have my baby's voice heard."

On October 10, Riverside County announced that it would dismiss many cases ranging from misdemeanors to felony charges. So far, the county has reportedly dropped more than 200 criminal cases.

"Most dismissed cases involve domestic violence charges but have also included other crime types, such as an assault case and a robbery," the county's announcement stated. "California Law permits prosecutors to refile dismissed felony cases one time. Dismissed misdemeanor cases cannot be refiled."

The county noted that there is currently a backlog of more than 2,800 cases.

"I assure you that we are doing everything in our power, advancing every legal argument, preparing every viable appeal, offering the court every possible solution, to keep our local judges from dismissing criminal cases," said DA Mike Hestrin. "These case dismissals are not justified and are not justice."

The Riverside County Superior Court did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Fox News Digital said.