Original Blog Entry: Couple tries to trade children for exotic bird

truesee — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:07:36 GMT

Couple tries to trade children for exotic bird

Accused to testify against guardian

JASON BROWN

Advocate Acadiana bureau

Oct 15, 2009

A Eunice couple pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of the sale of minor children stemming from allegations that they traded a atoo and $175 for two minor children in February.

Paul James Romero, 46, and Brandy Lynn Romero, 28, both received five-year suspended sentences and have agreed to testify against Donna Louise Greenwell, 53, who is alleged to have sold them the 4-year-old girl and 5-year-old boy.

Both children were under Greenwell s care after the children s biological parents had left them with her, according to a news release from the Evangeline Parish District Attorney s Office.

However, Greenwell allegedly left the children with the Romeros without the parents knowledge, the release stated.

The Romeros, who both received three years of probation and a suspended fine of $2,500, were set to stand trial today.

Greenwell also faces two counts of the sale of minor children and is set to stand trial Nov. 16.

The case made national headlines when it was announced in February.

The couple allegedly acknowledged that Greenwell received a atoo, valued at $1,500, and about $175 in cash from them.

Calls to the couple s attorneys were not returned Wednesday.

Assistant District Attorney Nichole Gil was unavailable for comment.

The release stated that the Romeros were led to believe that Greenwell would use the money to transfer legal custody from Greenwell to them.

Greenwell allegedly met the Romeros after responding to a flier at a livestock barn offering a atoo for $1,500.

The Romeros were unable to have children of their own and were unaware of the exact legal requirements for transferring custody of minor children, according to the release.

The couple maintains they were simply trying to provide a home for two children that were unwanted by Greenwell, the release stated.

Timothy Fontenot, a court-appointed attorney who represented Greenwell early on, has said that she had good intentions and was simply trying to find a good home for children who had been abandoned to her care.

He also said that the Romeros gave the bird to Greenwell s granddaughter and maintained that there was no swap involved.

Authorities said Greenwell was a cattle-hauling truck driver from Pitkin, in central Louisiana, with a criminal history dating back to the 1980s. She remains free on a $100,000 bond.

LINK TO VIDEO AND UPDATED STORY:

http://wjz.com/watercooler/bird.kids.trade.2.1248755.html

LINK TO ORIGINAL STORY WITH PHOTOS:

http://news.aol.com/article/kids-swapped-for-bird/360399?icid=100214839x1219784888x1201277955

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