Mom Allegedly Gives Teens Laughing Gas

[December 20, 2007]  LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. (AP) -- The mother of a 13-year-old boy has been arrested for supplying nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, used during her son's ditch parties at their Lake Elsinore home.

Maria Antonia Mendez was arrested for providing the gas used by the teens to get high. Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Evan Petersen says the teens skipped school and hung out at the home.

Police began investigating the case after a school officer noticed repeated absences of a group of students. Canisters of nitrous oxide were found by deputies serving a search warrant Monday evening.

Investigators say the teenagers filled balloons with the gas and inhaled it.

The sergeant says the 28-year-old mother also participated in the nitrous parties. She was booked for investigation of multiple counts of child endangerment and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

__

Information from: The Press-Enterprise, http://www.pe.com/

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.