POLICE SAY COUPLE TRIED TO SELL BABY

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, January 11, 1993                   TAG: 9301110049
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CLINTWOOD                                LENGTH: Medium
POLICE SAY COUPLE TRIED TO SELL BABY
A Haysi man and woman were in custody Sunday, charged with trying to sell their infant daughter and unborn child through a newspaper classified ad.
James Ira Owens, 21, and his 17-year-old wife were arrested Saturday on charges of offering a child up for adoption in exchange for monetary gain, said Dickenson County Sheriff Frank Childress. Owens' wife's name was withheld by authorities because she is under 18.
The couple ran an ad in the Bristol Herald Courier on Dec. 14, asking anyone interested in adopting a baby to contact them, Childress said. A person who responded to the ad tipped police, Childress added.
Dickenson County Commonwealth's Attorney Don Askins said the couple was trying to gain financially from the adoption of an 8-month-old girl and an unborn child, who is due in February.
"Basically, they agreed to place a child with a family in exchange for a sum of money," Askins said. "They talked with several different couples about placing the child."
Before the Owenses were able to complete the alleged transaction, police were informed of the couple's plans, Childress said. Police set up an undercover operation Friday and arrested the Owenses on Saturday, he said.
The alleged scheme is the first of its kind in Dickenson County, Childress said.
Childress declined to discuss the couple's motive for the alleged transaction.
Owens was being held without bond Sunday in the Dickenson County Jail at the request of the commonwealth's attorney. Askins said Owens will most likely go before a General District Court judge for arraignment Tuesday, when bond could be set.
Owens' wife was taken to the Bristol Detention Center, a juvenile facility, Childress said.
Prosecutors plan to petition the court to try Owens' wife as an adult, Askins said. She will go before a Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court judge Wednesday.
The Owenses could face 10-year prison sentences if convicted in Circuit Court, according to the Sheriff's Department. If Owens' wife were convicted as a minor, the maximum penalty is incarceration to age 21, Askins said.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB