A woman accused of putting the lives of two 12-year-olds at risk in April by driving with them stowed in the trunk of her car has been indicted by a Bowie County grand jury.
Camille Marie Hancock, 37, of Nash, Texas, was arrested April 7 by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper following a traffic stop on Farm to Market Road 2148 near its intersection with U.S. Highway 59, according to a probable cause affidavit used to create the following account. Hancock was driving a silver Ford sedan when she came "to rest illegally in the intersection" and then disregarded a red light.
As Trooper Jonathon Baldwin approached the car, he allegedly saw Hancock "reaching in and out of her purse in a frantic motion." People in Hancock's car included a "young adult male front passenger, a young adult female passenger, an infant in a rear facing car seat not fastened by a seat belt, and a young female passenger with a toddler in her lap unsecured," the affidavit states.
Baldwin noted a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car. Hancock allegedly admitted to smoking moments earlier while the toddler and baby were also in the car.
"Hancock was extremely nervous and I observed her to demonstrate several tics and body tremors throughout the interview," the affidavit states.
Tics and body tremors are symptoms associated with methamphetamine abuse. Hancock was allegedly in possession of a useable amount of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
While Hancock was being placed under arrest on two outstanding warrants, she reportedly informed the trooper that two 12-year-old boys were in the trunk of her car. Baldwin immediately opened the trunk and the boys were found lying down.
"Hancock would later inform me she had traveled from Queen City, Texas, enroute to Texarkana with the boys laying down in the trunk of the car," the affidavit states. "Hancock stated she was giving a ride to the two adults and infant and had placed the two boys in the trunk for convenience."
Hancock allegedly admitted to having used meth and marijuana both before and during the drive, and she allegedly conceded that she was aware of the risk of injury or death to the boys created by allowing them to ride in the trunk of a car.
Hancock was indicted last week for two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and a single count of possession of methamphetamine less than one gram. All three charges facing Hancock are state jail felonies punishable by six months to two years in a Texas state jail.
The case is assigned to 202nd District Judge John Tidwell. Hancock is expected to appear in court for arraignment in August.