Woman accused of baby-snatching scheme gets probation
ALBANY, Ore. – In Linn County circuit court Tuesday, 26-year-old Trinity Vidal Hernandez heard her fate.
In a case that pitted her against police and hospital workers on charges of trying to snatch a baby from Albany General Hospital, Hernandez received supervised probation for 60 months plus "special conditions" that include barring her from children younger than age 1 (other than her own or immediate family) throughout her probation. She also was sentenced to 48 hours in jail, though she already has served that time.
Judge Glen Baisinger also assigned Hernandez to five days of compensatory service. Compensatory service can be community service, electronic home detention, work crew, day treatment center or even jail.
Hernandez spoke to us about the charges in October. She said it all stemmed from "a misunderstanding," where a nurse near the maternity ward over-reacted after overhearing Hernandez talk about a friend's kids.
Police investigating the Sept. 19 case claimed Hernandez made up a story about a friend on route to the hospital while delivering triplets to divert attention away from the maternity ward. They said hospital staff was re-assigned from their duties to prepare for the possible arrival of the medical emergency, while Hernandez slipped off to the maternity ward nurses station. The police investigation concluded that Hernandez's intent was to take an infant from the ward. However, they were not able to arrive at a motive.
Hernandez, meanwhile, has three kids of her own and told KATU that "If I wanted another child, I would just have one."
After pleading "no contest" Feb. 2 to the above two counts, she also was ordered to pay a $67 fee to the court for the charge of initiating a false report (a misdemeanor) and a $134 fee and "restitution" of $1,000 to Albany Hospital for the attempt to commit the felony of custodial interferance charge (also a misdemeanor charge). That $1,000 will be split equally between those at the hospital who were involved in this case. Hernandez's bail payment can be applied toward that restitution.
Today, Hernandez appeared in person with her court-appointed counsel Kirk Tibbetts, and was not in custody.
She will report to Linn County Mental Health by Feb. 16 to schedule a mental health assessment. She's ordered to follow through with the assessment and complete any recommended treatment or after care.
For the duration of probation she is barred from knowingly contacting or associating with anyone from Albany General Hospital involved in the September case. Her employment must be pre-approved by her probation officer, and she is to have no contact with maternity wards.
Hernandez originally also was charged with disorderly conduct in the second degree, criminal mischief in the second degree and attempt to commit a class B felony of kidnapping. Those charges have been dismissed.
Trinity Vidal-Hernandez talks to KATU's Adam Ghassemi shortly after the charges surfaced:
