A Texarkana woman is facing felony child exploitation charges after allegedly using a 10-year-old boy to help steal baby clothes from a local boutique.
Latashanique Lashay Antwine, 26, is accused of hiding stolen items in the child’s backpack, her purse, and her clothing while inside Carter’s boutique on Richmond Road on Feb. 12. Surveillance footage reportedly showed the boy assisting Antwine by positioning his backpack for her to stash items.
Store employees later found 24 empty hangers, estimating the stolen merchandise to be worth over $200. Police identified the boy as a relative of Antwine and a local elementary school student.
Antwine is being held in Bowie County jail on a $55,000 bond. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison for child exploitation and an additional year for misdemeanor theft. The case is assigned to 202nd District Judge John Tidwell.
