Sacramento Woman Denies Trying To Abandon Kids At Hospital

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - A Sacramento woman is under arrest for abandoning her own children. But she tells CBS13 she never left their sides.

"It's not what they made this situation out to be. I love my kids with all my heart," said Kimberly James. "If you talk to my kids, you'll know that I love them."

Investigators are saying something completely different.

"I would never leave them in a position like that," said James.

She's behind bars accused of the unthinkable: deserting her own children and leaving them with complete strangers.

"I love my children. I would never desert them," she said. "Look at me. I would not desert my children."

Sacramento investigators say it happened over the weekend at Kaiser Hospital on Morse Avenue. James claims she was there asking a social worker to help her find a way to have her two young children adopted.

"I can only take so much more," she said.

James says because of health and homelessness issues, her life was caving in. She says that's when the social worker and deputy turned on her and accused her of abandoning her kids.

"I never deserted my children and there's even witnesses inside the emergency room," she said.

"We're talking about a four and five-year-old boy and girl," said Sacramento County Sheriff's Dept. Sgt. Jason Ramos.

A deputy says James said she didn't want the kids and ran off.

"At one point, when the deputy was talking to hospital personnel, this woman actually tried to run and flee on foot in an attempt to abandon the kids there," said Ramos.

She was caught and the kids were taken by CPS.

James admits she has a lot of drama in her life and has had numerous run-ins with law enforcement, but wouldn't abandon her kids.

"I love my children with all my heart and I don't want anything but the best for them. I swear to God. I never deserted my children," she said.

James is being held on $50,000 bail and she says when she gets out, she's going to fight for her kids.

Sacramento County offers 24-hour support lines, crisis nurseries and child protective services that can be reached by calling 211.