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Bond reduction sought in child endangerment case

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A Commerce woman is seeking a reduction in her bond on a charge of endangering a child, after allegedly leaving a 22-month-old child alone for more than 30 hours.

Antoinette Miami Escalera has filed a writ of habeas corpus from the Hunt County Jail, where she remained in custody in lieu of $50,000 bond Tuesday on one count of abandoning/endangering a child with imminent danger of bodily injury. The writ seeks the appointment of an attorney, a reduction in the bond or both.

A hearing on the writ had not been scheduled in the 354th District Court as of Tuesday afternoon.

Escalera, 20, was arrested on the charge outside of a Commerce apartment complex on the afternoon of August 7.

A report from the Commerce Police Department indicated a manager at the complex was posting an eviction notice at Escalera’s apartment when the manager heard the child crying. The manager then called the police department, who arrived to find the child inside of a bedroom in the apartment.

The apartment was said to have no electricity in temperatures approaching 100 degrees outside. The child was said to be wearing soiled underwear covered with a department store plastic bag.

Escalera showed up to the apartment while officers were on the scene and was immediately arrested.

An investigation by the Commerce Police Department and Child Protective Services allegedly revealed the child was left unattended in the apartment from 7 a.m. August 6 to 3 p.m. August 7.

The charge is a second degree felony, punishable upon conviction by a maximum sentence of from two to 20 years in prison and an optional fine of up to $10,000.

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