Selling a child for $3000 and a SUV

[Draka]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/LAW/03/24/child.selling.ap/index.html

OWENSBORO, Kentucky (AP) -- A couple are charged with trying to sell a 15-month-old girl for $3,000 and a sport-utility vehicle.

Charles G. Hope Jr., 32, and Amber M. Revlett, 26, both of Owensboro, planned to use the money to pay off his fines for previous criminal charges, said Daviess County Sheriff's Lt. Bill Thompson. They were arrested Friday.

Thompson said it started out Wednesday as a joke between the couple and two women, but it became apparent that Hope and Revlett weren't kidding.

"This is one of those things that worked out, and, luckily, we were able to do this before they were able to sell the child to someone who may not have contacted law enforcement," Thompson said.

Hope told the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer that he wasn't trying to sell his girlfriend's little girl.

"I love her babies, I love my babies, and people don't have enough money to get any of my kids," he told the newspaper.

Hope said the two women he's accused of trying to sell the baby to were just trying to get the child for themselves.

"They said something to [Revlett] about giving us $500 for temporary custody to take her to New Mexico and I said, 'Well, give me $3,000 and your truck,"' Hope said. "The next thing I know, I'm sitting here accused of trying to sell my kid ... . I know they don't think I'm serious, they just want her."

Thompson said Revlett's three children were placed in the custody of child protective services. Selling a child for adoption is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

So were they serious or what? Even if they weren't...what a thing to joke about!

 

[Gentoo]

How can people even joke about selling their child?

 

[Draka]

How can people even joke about selling their child?

Obviously pretty easily for these people. If it was a joke like they claim.:areyoucra

 

[Djamila]

The joke story seems more plausible to me. I can picture myself easily making the same joke.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

How can people even joke about selling their child?

People around here always joke about it, and are jokingly asking relatives if they want to keep the kids.

 

[Todd]

So were they serious or what? Even if they weren't...what a thing to joke about!

It looks like a joke. Although, sanctioned agencies sell children every day, so I don't know why individuals get in trouble for this if the kid is given to a good couple.

True Example: My wife and I have had problems having children. This pregnant girl new my wife. She offered to give us her baby, in turn, we'd allow her to be a part of the child's life, and we'd help her with some bills (nothing major, we just thought it would be nice to help her). Anyway, we accepted. About a month later, the girl went into an adoption agency because her mother wanted her to look into other options. We got a call from the adoption agency stating that they have this girl in the office who wants to let us adopt her baby, but the company would get 20,000 dollars as a finder fee. Of course, we said we found her first. We finally decided to drop it. We figured if it was going to be that much of a trouble, it wasn't going to be worth it.

Sorry, this just hit a personal issue with me even though these people obviously weren't trying to sell their kids.

 

[NoahideHiker]

I think the seriousness of this crime should be fairly judged on the make and model of SUV she was bargaining for. I mean, if she was shooting for a Pathfinder or Four Runner I can see it but if it was a 89 TrailBlazer she's on drugs.

 

[RevOxley_501]

i know some kids that arent worth 3G's.

 

[Amalia]

The joke story seems more plausible to me. I can picture myself easily making the same joke.

When I was a young mom of four active -- and some OVER-active -- children, I recall being tempted to give one or more of them away so I wouldn't lose my sanity! Of course, I would never have done that . . . but if someone had overheard me say that, they may have thought I was serious. Maybe this is what this couple really meant . . . just my two cents worth!