On August 26, 2010, Tulare County Superior Court Judge Darryl Ferguson imposed an 18 month prison sentence on 32-year-old Teandrea Watson of Chicago, Illinois, for attempted child abduction after she served as the child’s surrogate mother.

A Visalia family hired Watson to be a surrogate mother via the internet. Watson gave birth in Chicago and gave the child to the family. Later, she reported to the police that the Visalia family took her child. A Chicago judge decided that the Visalia family should have the child. Watson came to Visalia on two occasions and tried to take the child back to Chicago. She contacted the police, claimed that she was in town to pick up her daughter, and produced false court documents that allegedly gave her custody.

Later Watson entered into a surrogacy contract over the internet with a family from Maryland. At some point, the Maryland family became suspicious and refused to continue with payments. The defendant threatened to give their baby up for adoption if they did not pay her. Police verified that the defendant was not even pregnant. Watson received a four year and six month prison sentence in Illinois for the theft crimes committed against the Maryland family.

On July 26, 2010, Watson pled no contest to two counts of attempted child abduction. At sentencing, she was ordered to pay $3,100 in restitution to the Visalia victims as well as a $200 Restitution Fine. The defendant will serve the 18-month California prison term after she completes the Illinois term.

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Bethany M. Gilliland and investigated by District Attorney Investigator Melody Flores of the Child Abduction Unit and Detective Bill Diltz of the Visalia Police Department.

Contact Person: Assistant District Attorney, Shani Jenkins, (559)733-6411