“Alleged Parents-of-the-Year Samantha Tomasini and Patrick Fousek”

The most recent example of desperate times calling for desperate measures: meth heads and a 6-month old child.

Patrick Fousek, 38, and Samantha Tomasini, 20, were arrested Wednesday, hours after Fousek allegedly approached two women outside Walmart and asked if they’d like to purchase his child — at the bargain price of $25. The women initially thought Fousek was joking, but when he became persistent, they got suspicious and reported it to police, Salinas police spokesman Officer Lalo Villegas said.

Run of the mill child endangerment under Cal. Penal Code § 273a:

(a) Any person who, under circumstances or conditions likely to produce great bodily harm or death, willfully causes or permits any child to suffer, or inflicts thereon unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or having the care or custody of any child, willfully causes or permits the person or health of that child to be injured, or willfully causes or permits that child to be placed in a situation where his or her person or health is endangered, shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or in the state prison for two, four, or six years.

Note, however, they are not guilty of human trafficking under CA Penal Code § 236.1 which requires a scienter element of either child prostitution or slavery:

Human Trafficking.

(a) Any person who deprives or violates the personal liberty of another with the intent to effect or maintain a felony violation of Section 266, 266h, 266i, 267, 311.4, or 518, or to obtain forced labor or services, is guilty of human trafficking.

In a barter economy, you always want to start with a high price point in anticipation of haggling. But, to be fair, he is rolling back prices.

In other news, Fousek was attacked by inmates while awaiting arraignment.

From NBC Bay Area.