An Arkansas couple, Darien Urban, 22, and Shalene Ehlers, 21, have been sentenced after attempting to sell their baby for a “six-pack of beer” to a man at a campground in September 2024.
Sentencing Details:
-
Darien Urban pleaded guilty to attempted accepting compensation for adoption.
-
He was sentenced to three years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections, with an additional three-year suspended sentence.
-
A prior theft conviction in 2023 contributed to his harsher sentence.
-
-
Shalene Ehlers pleaded guilty to both attempting to accept compensation and endangering the welfare of a minor.
-
She was sentenced to six years of state-supervised probation, which could result in no criminal record if completed successfully.
-
Incident Details:
-
The couple allegedly approached a camper asking for beer and eventually tried to exchange their baby for alcohol.
-
A man named Ricky Crawford provided beer in exchange for keeping the baby overnight and then delivered the child to Cody Nathaniel Martin, who allegedly drew up a contract for $1,000.
-
Authorities said the baby was placed at substantial risk of death or serious injury by being left with strangers.
-
The campground owner called 911 after learning of the attempted transaction, and the baby, who showed signs of neglect, was taken to a hospital.
Additional Notes:
-
A contract signed by Urban and Ehlers attempted to transfer parental rights, though no money had exchanged hands.
-
As part of their plea agreements, neither parent is allowed to contact the child.
The case highlights extreme child endangerment and led to significant legal consequences for both parents.
This article has been carefully fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and eliminate any misleading information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our content.
Leave a Reply