Babies are really cute. This we know is true. They’re very sweet, and because of that, a lot of people like them. But is there a line for how much you should like them? If you had an opportunity, would you want to buy someone else’s baby? Or if someone offered you money for your baby, would you take it?
That’s not often a decision parents need to make, but apparently, there may be a secret market for buying babies. Louisiana man Howell Gene Penton is now facing jail time after he allegedly propositioned a mother, offering to buy her baby after seeing them at an auction house. Details are still emerging, but it highlights something many people may know about.
On November 26, 2025, an investigation began into the sale of a minor child, the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office wrote in a news release posted on social media. Its Special Investigations Unit worked alongside the Angie Police Department to conduct the investigation.
As a result of the investigation, authorities learned that Penton approached a woman at Angie Auction House, offering to buy her 10-month-old daughter.
The sheriff’s office’s Special Victims Unit and APD conducted an undercover investigation on November 29, the media release shared. That undercover operation gave them the evidence they needed to get an arrest warrant for Penton. He was arrested the same day “without incident.”
“The investigation is ongoing and the owners of the Angie Auction House are in full cooperation with the investigation,” the release read. No specific charges were announced.
According to People, Penton is 73 years old. No details have been given by authorities about the case.
We don’t know exactly what happened with the woman whose baby Penton wanted to buy. It feels safe to assume she was the one who may have alerted police about the offer, and authorities have given no indication that she was part of the sting.
Penton is being held at the Washington Parish Jail in Franklinton, court records show, on a $200,000 bond.
