Authorities say shocking new information cast doubt on child endangerment accusations filed against an Arkansas man earlier this month.
Now, it appears that the child in question may never have been in danger.
Lyrica Maisha Noble, 27, is charged with one count of filing a false report with a law enforcement agency, according to the Jonesboro Police Department. The charge is a low-level felony in the Natural State.
Originally, charges were filed against Noble’s child’s father, Larry Donell Lee, 27, for making what appear to be false accusations.
The underlying event occurred on November 6, outside a home on Churchill Drive in Jonesboro, a medium-sized college town about 70 miles northwest of Memphis, Tennessee. According to a probable cause affidavit acquired by Law&Crime, Lee was minding the baby that day so the mother could conduct some errands.
Eventually, the parents argued, and Lee informed Noble that he was returning the child to her residence. Noble maintained she was not at home, but Lee “said he did not believe her.”
The child was left on the front porch, in his car seat.
Noble first told law officials that the infant “had been left outside alone for approximately 30 minutes.” However, the mother suddenly admitted to being home when the baby boy was dropped off, according to officials.
But the youngster may not have been alone at all, but rather was immediately rescued from just outside the apartment by his mother after his father dropped him off, confirming Lee’s account of events.
The dramatic narrative shift occurred two days following the initial report.
The woman’s first story appeared on November 19.
“Noble reported that she was not at her residence when Lee dropped off their infant child,” according to an affidavit acquired by NEA Report, a Northeastern Arkansas news website. “Noble further claimed that when she arrived, she found the child in a car seat with vomit on them.”
On November 21, the story shifted dramatically.
“Noble admitted that she had been at the residence the entire time Lee was attempting to contact her,” according to the declaration. “She agreed that when Lee notified her that the infant had been left outside, she was already home and grabbed the child right away. Noble admitted that she submitted false information about the suspected endangerment of the minor, which resulted in a felony warrant being issued for Lee and his subsequent arrest for child endangerment.”
Noble was arrested and booked into Craighead County Detention Center following her apparent admission. She is not listed on the jail’s roster as of this writing. The defendant is scheduled to appear in court on January 23, according to court records.
Law&Crime contacted the Jonesboro Police Department for more information on this topic, particularly the progress of Lee’s case, but received no answer by the time of publishing.
