Magistrate Orders Woman Held Without Bond In Child-For-Sale Case

SAN ANTONIO (AP) – A federal magistrate has ordered a mother accused of attempting to prostitute her young daughters held without bond.

Magistrate Nancy Stein Nowak ordered 25-year-old Jennifer Richards to remain in custody Tuesday after hearing testimony from an FBI agent in the case. The agent said Richards and a boyfriend had extensively chatted over the Internet about how to sell Richards’ 5-year-old daughter to a child molester. The two also allegedly discussed how to condition the girl to accept the abuse.

Richards also has a 10-month-old girl that authorities allege she planned to prostitute when the child was older.

Richards began to cry numerous times during the hearing.

Her attorney says the chats were nothing but fantasy, prompted by her boyfriend who is also charged in the case.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)