East TX Man Accused of Trying to Lure Children Away From Parents

This story is especially terrifying, considering what might have happened if someone had not been paying attention.

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Our news partner KWTX is reporting that police have arrested an East Texas man after he allegedly tried to convince two young children to leave their parents and come with him.

David Nathanael Blaylock of Lindale was taken into custody Sunday after allegedly asking two children under the age of 7 to come with him. According to Captain Brent Chambers, the children gave testimony that matched their parents' statement. Both children and adults told police that Blaylock approached the 4-year-old and 6-year-old outside of their home, and asked them to go with him. When the parents heard Blaylock, they chased him away.

Chambers said officers were able to easily locate, question, and arrest Blaylock without incident. Blaylock did not at any point touch the children, but if he had, charges would have been more serious.

'Enticing a Child' Charge in Texas

A person commits the offense of 'enticing a child' by knowingly persuading or taking the child from a parent or guardian, according to the Texas Penal Code. An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor, unless it is shown that there was intent to commit a felony against a child, in which case the offense becomes a felony of the third degree.

Currently, Blaylock is in the Smith County Jail on a charge of enticing a child away from a custodian. His bond has been set at $500.

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Most of these laws are just funny now, but at one time, there was a valid (or at least somewhat valid) reason for them to exist.

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