Roxanne Helus, a California woman who operated a licensed daycare from her home in Manteca, has been sentenced to six years in state prison for the death of a 5-month-old boy who stopped breathing while under her care.
Background
According to prosecutors with the San Joaquin District Attorney's Office, Helus was responsible for watching six children on October 22, 2025, including infant Christian Olvera. Investigators determined that Helus began consuming alcohol at 4 a.m. that morning. Later that day, she drove two children to school while her blood alcohol content measured 0.29% — nearly four times the legal limit for driving in California.
While several children remained in her care, Helus ordered more than $100 worth of alcoholic beverages delivered to her home, prosecutors said. At approximately 11:30 a.m., she brought Christian into a travel trailer on her property — an area authorities noted was not part of the licensed daycare facility.
Manteca Police Department officers responded to Helus' residence after she reported that the infant was "not breathing." When officers arrived, another adult was performing CPR on the baby. Authorities observed that Helus appeared intoxicated.
Christian was transported to a local hospital and later transferred to Oakland Children's Hospital. He was taken off life support two days later, on October 24, 2025. Prosecutors said the infant died of anoxic brain injury — a condition that occurs when oxygen flow to the brain is completely cut off.
The Charges
In June, Helus, now 49, pleaded guilty to child abuse and endangerment, involuntary manslaughter, and driving under the influence. During her plea hearing, she admitted the aggravating factor that she "took advantage of a position of trust and confidence" as someone responsible for watching children.
On Monday, San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge sentenced Helus to six years in state prison. She was also ordered to pay $12,818 to the California Victims Compensation Board and $3,327.22 to the families of the other children she was supervising that day. The judge additionally prohibited Helus from operating a daycare or participating in any form of child care.
Key Takeaways
- Helus began drinking at 4 a.m. while responsible for six children at her licensed Manteca daycare
- Her blood alcohol content was 0.29% when she drove two children to school — nearly four times the legal limit
- She brought the infant into an unauthorized travel trailer on her property and continued drinking
- The baby died of anoxic brain injury after being taken off life support on October 24, 2025
- Helus pleaded guilty to child abuse, involuntary manslaughter and DUI before receiving her six-year sentence
What's Next
Helus has been remanded into custody to begin serving her sentence. The court's prohibition on operating or participating in childcare means she will be permanently barred from the industry.
During Monday's sentencing hearing, Christian's mother, Christina Olvera, addressed Helus directly: "I will never forgive you," she said. "You made choices that took him away forever." According to The Stockton Record, Olvera told the court that her other children still ask about their baby brother, and that Christian's clothing remains packed in a box they will never open again.