New York State Police have arrested a man accused of posting his children for sale on Craigslist.
Joshua Stagnitto told police it was a joke, said Investigator Bryan R. Blum of New York State Police in Rochester. Stagnitto turned himself in when he got transportation to come to the police station, Blum said.
Stagnitto, 24, of Brockport, is charged with one count of falsely reporting an incident in the third degree.
Blum told CNN the charge against Stagnitto stems from the fact “that he indicated a baseless allegation of a crime which caused public alarm” and triggered an investigation.
A member of the public called child protective services earlier in April after seeing the post. Authorities began a probe, and had to “make sure that if there are two kids for sale, that they be tracked down and nothing happened to them,” Blum said.
When questioned by police, Stagnitto admitted he put the posting on Craigslist, the investigator said.
The two children remain with Stagnitto and their mother, whom Blum described as Stagnitto’s “significant other.”
Police do not believe the children are in any danger, he said.
If convicted of the misdemeanor charge, Stagnitto could face up to a year in jail or a fine of up to $1,000, Blum said.
