Drew Hellerud, the man suspected of the abuse and torture that required a three-month old child to be air-lifted to intensive care, has pled “not guilty” to a number of felony charges related to the incident.
At a video arraignment yesterday (June 5) in Rancho Cucamonga Court, Hellerud and his public defender entered not guilty pleas on four felony charges, including aggravated mayhem, torture, assault on a child causing paralysis, and willfully causing or permitting any child to suffer.
On May 24, Sheriff’s Deputies report that a three-month old girl was air-lifted from Yucca Valley to Loma Linda Hospital for life-threatening injuries consistent with child abuse. Sheriff’s Detectives identified Hellerud, the victim’s father, as the primary suspect in the abuse, and he was arrested that day.
Hellerud is next scheduled to appear at a pre-preliminary hearing in Joshua Tree later this week.
