Arkansas Couple Pleads Guilty After Attempting to Trade Custody of 2-Month-Old Baby for Beer and $1,000 at Campground
BENTON COUNTY, Arkansas — A Benton County couple has entered plea agreements after investigators say they attempted to transfer custody of their 2-month-old baby to a stranger at a local campground in exchange for beer and $1,000, according to newly released court records.
Couple Allegedly Negotiated to Give Up Infant for Alcohol and Cash
Authorities arrested Darien Urban, 22, and Shalene Ehlers, 21, on September 21, 2024, at the Hide Away Campground following a call reporting that the pair had attempted to sell their infant child. When deputies arrived, they discovered a signed written document stating the couple agreed to permanently transfer parental rights to a man identified as Cody Nathaniel Martin.
The document, according to the affidavit, included language declaring the decision final. Investigators say the incident began when Ehlers asked another camper for beer. The individual allegedly offered alcohol in exchange for having the baby for the night, which then escalated into an agreement to surrender the child permanently in return for money.
Written Contract Recovered at the Scene
Deputies recovered the handwritten contract, which stated Urban and Ehlers were transferring custody of the baby for $1,000. Court documents note that both parents had signed the paper, confirming the arrangement. Authorities say they immediately intervened, ensuring the child’s safety and removing the infant from the couple’s custody.
Guilty Pleas Entered; Sentences Issued
Urban pleaded guilty to attempted acceptance of compensation for adoption as part of his plea agreement. A judge sentenced him to three years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections, while prosecutors dismissed an additional charge of endangering the welfare of a minor.
Ehlers also pleaded guilty to attempted acceptance of compensation for adoption as well as endangering the welfare of a child. The court deferred acceptance of her plea and placed her on six years of supervised probation.
Parents Barred From All Contact With the Child
Under the terms of both plea agreements, neither parent is allowed to have contact with the child, who remains under the protection of state authorities.
The case highlights the severe legal consequences tied to illegal adoption arrangements and the steps law enforcement must sometimes take to safeguard vulnerable children. Residents are invited to share their thoughts on child safety and adoption protections at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
