For Immediate Release: February 5, 2004
On Thursday, 02/05/2004 at approximately 2:00 P.M., Hall County Sheriff’s Office Investigators along with Officials from Department of Family Children Services (DFACS), responded to a residence on Cedar Creek Road in Hall County to investigate a referral that had been called in to DFACS.
Upon the arrival, DFACS and Sheriff’s Investigators found two children, a nine month old and an 18 month old, home alone. After more than one hour, the mother of the children, a 15-year-old juvenile, and 22-year-old Mauricio Blanco, returned to the residence.
Blanco was taken into custody and charged with two counts of Cruelty to Children in the first degree and one count of Statutory Rape. The mother of the children was also taken into state custody and was charged with two counts of Cruelty to Children in the first degree.
DFACS obtained a court order and placed the children in protective custody.
The incident is still under investigation by DFACS and the Hall County Sheriff's Office, Criminal Investigation Division.
1st Lieutenant Jeff Strickland
Uniform Patrol Division
Hall County Sheriff's Office