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NAPA, CALIFORNIA - A Napa mother pleaded not guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder charges that were filed in July, which prosecutors added to earlier counts stemming from a crash that killed her two children.
Yesica Barajas, 31, entered her plea before Napa County Judge Elia Ortiz, who set her next court appearance for Oct. 2 to schedule a preliminary hearing, according to court records. Jail logs show Barajas remains in custody at the Napa County jail without bail.
The District Attorney’s Office first charged her with vehicular manslaughter and child abuse in the March 16 crash that killed her son, Damian Montanez, 10, and daughter, Aaliyah Montanez, 9. She initially pleaded not guilty May 6. Prosecutors later upgraded the charges July 15.
Authorities say Barajas was driving a 2006 Nissan Maxima around 4 a.m. March 16 when she veered off the Highway 29 offramp at West Imola Avenue and struck a tree. The California Highway Patrol initially reported the crash had happened the next morning, but prosecutors later clarified it occurred hours earlier and wasn’t discovered until about 7:30 a.m. Both children died at the scene.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/09/18 ... -children/