DA: Girls suffered at hands of mother, boyfriend

SAN BERNARDINO — Two additional charges were handed out Thursday to a couple that already faces child cruelty accusations for severe injuries sustained by their two young girls.

Jordan Joseph Brommer, 20, of Redlands, and Cheryl Christine Mock, 19, of Mentone, appeared in San Bernardino Superior Court Thursday and were each charged with three counts of child abuse.

Assistant District Attorney Melissa Rodriguez had been waiting for a physician’s report that may show the girls, ages 1 and 3, suffered injuries on more than one occasion.

“This is one of the more extreme cases” of child cruelty, said Rodriguez.

Mock, who is being held on $150,000 bail, is the mother of both girls, but Brommer, who is held on $100,000 bail, is not their father, said San Bernardino County sheriff’s officials. Both pleaded not guilty at their arraignments this week.

The injuries go beyond typical child abuse cases, Rodriguez said.

Sheriff’s deputy Robert Lomeli, part of the Crimes Against Children Detail, said the children endured rib fractures, bruises over their entire bodies and lacerated livers. The older girl, who reports show was malnourished, also suffered brain injuries.

Lomeli said the younger girl, who had a broken leg and collarbone, had a lacerated spleen and marks around her throat consistent with strangulation. Reports also conclude that the younger girl had handfuls of hair pulled out.

Early on Feb. 26, at 12:30 a.m., paramedics were called to the couple’s apartment in Mentone, a community next to Redlands that is routinely patrolled by the Yucaipa sheriff’s substation.

Reports state that Mock said the older girl had fallen out of bed, but injuries were not consistent with her statements. Deputies later discovered the 1-year-old living in the home. Paramedics found the 3-year-old having difficulty breathing. Both girls were taken into protective custody and transported to Loma Linda Medical Center for treatment.

Rodriguez is asking Superior Court Judge John Martin to increase the suspects’ bail to $350,000 each.

Mock is being held at the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino and Jordan at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.

Both girls, who have different fathers, were said to be celebrating birthdays this month.