RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. - A Rancho Cucamonga woman has been sentenced in connection with the 2024 overdose death of a 10-year-old boy.
What we know:
Christina Veronica Alvarez was sentenced in San Bernardino County Superior Court on Tuesday to six years in state prison.
This follows an appearance on March 19, 2026, where Alvarez entered a plea of no contest to one count of felony child abuse likely to cause great bodily harm.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: San Bernardino County woman charged in 10-year-old boy's fentanyl poisoning death
She also admitted to an enhancement which specifically addresses child abuse resulting in death, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
What we don't know:
Authorities have not disclosed a motive behind the incident, nor have they clarified the specific relationship between Alvarez and Mendoza.
Officials have not shared how the child initially came into contact with the narcotics stored in the home.
Timeline:
- December 2024: Deputies find 10-year-old Nathaniel Castro Mendoza dead from fentanyl and xylazine poisoning.
- March 14, 2025: Alvarez is arrested and booked at West Valley Detention Center on $100,000 bail.
- March 19, 2026: Alvarez enters a no-contest plea to felony child abuse and admits to the death enhancement.
- April 20, 2026: The court sentences Alvarez to six years in state prison.
The Source: This report is based on information from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.