Mother Faces Criminal Charge for Son’s Truancy

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office charged a Downey woman Tuesday with contributing to the delinquency of a minor for allowing her 12-year-old son to skip his sixth grade classes.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Thomas Higgins said it is the first time the criminal charge has been filed in a truancy case. Leticia Delava faces a year in jail and a $2,500 fine if she is convicted.

Higgins said Delava’s son has skipped school--with his mother’s knowledge and without a legitimate excuse--repeatedly in the past two years, including at least 30 times since last October. “We’re attempting to apply a criminal sanction to truancy, with the hope of sending a message that we’re serious about it,” Higgins said. This is a test case, he said, and more parents may be hauled in on charges if it works.