The Los Gatos mother accused of hosting alcohol-fueled parties for minors was due in court Monday ahead of an evidentiary hearing scheduled for Tuesday, but she did not show.
In her first public statement release exclusively to NBC Bay Area's Investigative Unit, Shannon O'Connor said she wanted the hearing to happen, but she was hospitalized with a skin infection.
"I have wounds packed full of gauze in two locations," she said in the statement.
Regarding the delayed preliminary hearing, she said, "I've been waiting two years for this moment. I don't want this postponed. I want to move forward."
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O'Connor and other sources told NBC Bay Area that the infection was sparked by bug bites she got while awaiting trial at Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas.
O'Connor said she's been hospitalized three times for the ongoing infection. It's unclear if other inmates are facing the issue.
NBC Bay Area reached out the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, which oversees the jail. Although we did not specify bed bugs, a Sheriff's deputy said there is no sign of bed bugs in O'Connor's unit and if the jail get a complaint they send out an exterminator.
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O'Connor is being held without bail at Elmwood jail after authorities arrested her out of state in October 2021.
Prosecutors say she allegedly hosted parties for underaged teens, gave them alcohol and encouraged them to have sex.
O'Connor is facing multiple felony charges, including sexual battery, child endangerment and providing alcohol to minors.
Earlier this summer, she and prosecutors were unable to reach a plea deal in the case. She currently maintains her not guilty plea.
The preliminary hearing has been in the works for months. This hearing will ultimately determine if there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial.
Monday was mostly supposed to be procedural, but testimony was supposed to start Tuesday, with some out-of-town witnesses prepared to speak remotely and fly in if needed.
Attorney will now meet again next Monday to set a different date for the hearing.
The judge is in the process of requesting and reviewing O'Connor's medical records to determine how long it will take for her to recover and be ready to move the case forward.
