Angelo can see!
Child allegedly blinded by father regains sight in remaining eye
| Thursday, Jun 04 2009 11:33 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Jun 04 2009 11:33 PM
Images
Handout photograph of Angelo Mendoza Jr. courtesy of KBAK TV
Handout photograph of Angelo Mendoza Sr.
Angelo Mendoza Jr., the 4-year-old whose eyes were allegedly maimed by his father, has regained partial eyesight, a source familiar with his condition said Thursday.
The boy can see out of his damaged but intact right eye and his vision is expected to improve, the source said.
He is getting regular care from an ophthalmologist and his eye is healing, the source said.
The left eye was bitten out by his father, 34-year-old Angelo Vidal Mendoza, Bakersfield police reported.
The father is awaiting further court proceedings on charges of mayhem, torture and child cruelty.
The Mendoza boy is in a foster home pending a decision on custody.
An unknown number of relatives of the boy are seeking custody, according to his uncle, 26-year-old Jesse Rosas, who is also seeking custody.
In the meantime, the boy is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances, the source said.
Counseling has also been set up for the child, the source said.
A limited amount of information is available on the boy because of confidentiality restrictions in the Child Protective Services system, the source said.
Police reports say the boy was attacked and blinded on April 28 by his wheelchair-bound father.
Minutes later, the father left his apartment, went to a nearby vacant backyard and cut up his own legs with an ax and a broken ceramic plate, police said.
Mendoza tried to make it appear that gang members attacked him, police reports say.
The father was paralyzed by a knife attack four years ago during a robbery attempt, his family has said.
