Woman Tries to Sell Child for $3,000, W. Virginia Officials Say

A woman who allegedly tried to sell her 2-month-old child to two different couples for $3,000 has been charged with child neglect, officials said Friday.

Clay County Prosecutor Richard Facemire said Lena Lynn Romine, 22, was charged with the misdemeanor offense because there are no state laws specifically prohibiting the selling of children.

“It’s clear that it’s neglect of a child and it’s abuse,” the prosecutor said. “A child isn’t . . . a horse or a cow you can sell and trade.”

Romine was arrested Thursday night and released on her own recognizance.

In July, the state health department received an anonymous tip that the woman was attempting to sell the child, Facemire said. The prosecutor said the court granted his motion to remove the child from Romine’s custody. A further investigation led to Thursday’s charge, Facemire said.

He said the investigation by health officials and state police revealed allegations that Romine had approached a Kanawha County couple in July and offered to sell her child for $3,000, then made the same offer to a Clay County couple.

When the Clay County couple declined, Romine allegedly offered to take $100-a-month payments. The couple again declined, and Romine allegedly offered to give up the child in exchange for the title to the couple’s station wagon and $100 cash.

The state alleges that Romine was “looking for the highest bidder or someone she could gain some monetary gain from and clearly that’s wrong,” Facemire said. He declined to identify the sex of the child.

The charge carries a $500 fine and up to one year in jail.