SEMINOLE --
A shelter hearing Monday will determine what happens to a 5-year-old boy whose mother is accused of trying to sell him.
The child has no relatives in Florida and currently is in protective custody.
His mother, Jessica Marie Mickles, 28, was given a $10,000 bond Sunday morning. Mickles was
arrested Saturday after a man informed authorities she tried to sell her son to him.
A Sheriff's deputy said during Sunday's hearing that Mickles is battling a prescription pain medicine addiction.
Neighbors say they thought she was trouble, but didn’t think she would ever try to sell her son.
“I never would think somebody would actually do that with their own flesh and blood, but I guess if the drugs got that much of a hold on you, I guess you’d probably do anything to sell whatever is valuable to you,” Timothy Pillion said.
Mickles admitted her deed to detectives, but she refused to say why.
James Gardner, of Tampa, told Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies that Mickles offered to sell her parental rights to the boy for $2,000.
Gardner told detectives he and his wife met Mickles through a church when she was struggling financially.
The Gardners befriended Mickles and her son, and began assisting the two with food and other monetary expenses.
Gardner said the couple noticed Mickles had an addiction problem and was leaving the child in their custody more frequently.
Detectives arrested Mickles at an undisclosed, prearranged location in Seminole, where she was to meet Gardner and exchange the child for money.
Mickles was arrested and charged with sale of parental rights and violation of probation for grand theft
A shelter hearing Monday will determine what happens to a 5-year-old boy whose mother is accused of trying to sell him.
The child has no relatives in Florida and currently is in protective custody.
His mother, Jessica Marie Mickles, 28, was given a $10,000 bond Sunday morning. Mickles was
arrested Saturday after a man informed authorities she tried to sell her son to him.
A Sheriff's deputy said during Sunday's hearing that Mickles is battling a prescription pain medicine addiction.
Neighbors say they thought she was trouble, but didn’t think she would ever try to sell her son.
“I never would think somebody would actually do that with their own flesh and blood, but I guess if the drugs got that much of a hold on you, I guess you’d probably do anything to sell whatever is valuable to you,” Timothy Pillion said.
Mickles admitted her deed to detectives, but she refused to say why.
James Gardner, of Tampa, told Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies that Mickles offered to sell her parental rights to the boy for $2,000.
Gardner told detectives he and his wife met Mickles through a church when she was struggling financially.
The Gardners befriended Mickles and her son, and began assisting the two with food and other monetary expenses.
Gardner said the couple noticed Mickles had an addiction problem and was leaving the child in their custody more frequently.
Detectives arrested Mickles at an undisclosed, prearranged location in Seminole, where she was to meet Gardner and exchange the child for money.
Mickles was arrested and charged with sale of parental rights and violation of probation for grand theft