A lot of women aspire to be the “fun aunt” one day. But one woman might have gotten started a little early. Vianney Alyssa Acosta faces charges after her 1-year-old nephew got ahold of her vape. Of course, it was likely an accident, but it could have had dangerous repercussions. She didn’t believe that the vape was in an area where the child could reach. But anyone who has been around a toddler knows that when they are determined, they will find the thing they shouldn’t have. Hopefully, next time, she will be more diligent about putting things away.
On May 16, 2025, deputies from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in Texas were called when a 1-year-old showed signs of narcotics exposure, they said in a news release. During an investigation at the scene, 20-year-old Acosta was identified as the responsible party, they said.
Acosta had left her THC vape pen in an area where her nephew could reach it, deputies said. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by the El Paso Times, Acosta, along with the child’s grandmother and father, were having lunch when she heard the toddler coughing from her bedroom. When she went into the bedroom, the toddler had her vape pen in his hands. She told investigators the little one “was red,” and she noticed “coughing and observed a little bit of smoke.”
When emergency medical services arrived on the scene, they found the toddler crying. He also “had droopy eyes and was trying to go to sleep,” the affidavit said. He was taken to the hospital for treatment. A urine test showed he was positive for THC.
According to Acosta, her nephew “has ways to get on the bed to reach out for things.” The affidavit stated that her bedroom door was not closed, and she said her vape was “out in the open with just miscellaneous items on top covering it.”
The boy’s father claimed he wasn’t inside the home at the time of the incident. He was allegedly outside working on a car. When he came inside, the grandmother told him the boy “hit a vape pen.” Neither the father or grandmother were charged.
Acosta, however, was arrested on May 21, on suspicion of child endangerment and possession of a controlled substance. The young woman was booked into the El Paso County Jail on a $6,000 bond. She was released the same day after posting bail.
