Santa Barbara – Since the 1970s, the influx of women into the U.S. economy and into a male-dominated competitive job market has grown to the point where nearly 60% of mothers today are working outside of the home.
One of those women—until her arrest on the morning of February 28th—was Ana Teresa Morales, a 29 year-old mother of three children ranging in age from four to 14. While most working mothers have had to work their way up the corporate ladder or accept entry-level positions on the lower wage scale, Morales had apparently been engaged in a somewhat higher-risk career path: selling illicit drugs.
The nature of Morales’s self-employment came under the scrutiny of Santa Barbara Police Department Narcotics Unit detectives in December of 2013. It was at that time, according to SBPD Public Information Officer Sgt Riley Harwood, an investigation commenced that led to the February 27th issuance of warrant authorizing a forcible search of her residence.
In anticipation of the execution of the warrant, surveillance of the residence was established on the morning of February 28th. Detectives observed the young mother as she dropped her younger children off at school, whereupon they made personal contact with her. As detailed in his report to the media, “Morales’s vehicle was searched and two baggies, each containing one gram of methamphetamine, were found in the unlocked center console of the car,” Harwood said. Because she had transported her children in the vehicle only minutes earlier, the inescapable conclusion is that they had been in dangerous proximity to the drugs.
Pursuant to that discovery, the search of Morales’s apartment led to the discovery of “additional quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine,” some of which were stored in the bathroom used by all family members; drugs were even located in the bathroom cup used to store toothbrushes.
The search warrant ultimately led to the discovery of 7.5 ounces of methamphetamine and .5 ounces of cocaine, along with $485 in cash.
Morales was taken into custody and transported to Santa Barbara County Jail where she was booked on charges of possession of methamphetamine for sale, possession of cocaine for sale, transportation of drugs, and child endangerment. She remains in custody with bail set at $100,000, while her children were remanded into the custody of Santa Barbara County Child Welfare Services.
Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking
Read more:
EdHat: Drug Dealer arrested for child endangerment
Noozhawk: Mother facing drug, child endangerment charges
