A woman who drove from Queen City, Texas, to Texarkana with two boys in the trunk of her car was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to complete a residential drug treatment program Monday.
Camille Marie Hancock, 37, appeared before 202nd District Judge John Tidwell with Bowie County Public Defender Clayton Haas. Earlier this month Hancock pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, under one gram and to two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor.
Tidwell sentenced Hancock to serve five years probation on each charge and ordered the terms to run concurrently. While on probation Hancock must complete residential treatment in a locked down facility from which she is not free to leave. Upon completion, Hancock will be required to participate in aftercare and drug court and can be returned to a Texas state jail if she tests positively for drugs.
Tidwell ordered Hancock to pay a $2,000 fine, 240 hours of community service restitution and suspended her driver’s license for six months.
Hancock admitted to a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper that she had smoked methamphetamine and marijuana prior to and while driving from Queen City, Texas to Texarkana on April 7, according to a probable cause affidavit. Trooper Jonathon Baldwin was on routine patrol when he allegedly observed Hancock violate traffic laws as she drove a silver Ford passenger car.
Hancock came to rest illegally in the intersection of Farm to Market Road 2148 and U.S. Highway 59 before disregarding a red traffic signal. Baldwin pulled the car over and observed Hancock “to be in constant motion and appeared to be reaching in and out of her purse in a frantic motion,” the affidavit states.
Riding in the front passenger seat was a “young adult male.” Other passengers included a young adult female passenger, an infant in a rear facing car seat which was not belted into the car, and a young female passenger with a toddler in her lap unsecured. Baldwin noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car “and Hancock would admit to smoking marijuana in the car moments earlier.”
“Hancock was very nervous and I observed her to demonstrate several ‘tics’ and body tremors throughout the interview. Hancock was found to be in possession of several pieces of drug paraphernalia, a useable amount of methammphetamine and to have two active capias warrants,” the affidavit states.
While Hancock was being placed under arrest, she informed the trooper that two 12-year-old boys were in the trunk. The trunk was immediately opened and the boys were found inside.
“Hancock would later admit to having used both methamphetamine and marijuana prior and while driving and stated she knew placing the boys in the trunk put the children at a high risk for injury or death,” the affidavit states.
Child Protective Services was contacted and the children were released to “the appropriate parties.” Hancock claimed that she was giving the adults and infant in the car a ride and placed the boys in the trunk for “convenience.”
