MIDLAND, Texas — Charlotte Latasha Pegues, the mother of 24-year-old Cordarius Pegues, has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for the exploitation of a disabled person. However, her prison sentence was probated for a term of 5 years, meaning she will not serve the prison sentence if she successfully completes all the conditions of her probation.
According to the Midland County District Attorney's office, Ms. Pegues will also have to pay a $1,000 fine, perform 300 hours of community service, and repay $5,050 to Cordarius and his current legal representative for the welfare benefits that she kept after he no longer lived with her.
Cordarius, a non-verbal young adult, was found by police while wandering alone. An effort to identify Cordarius' family followed, to no avail.
After seven months, MPD was able to identify Cordarius Pegues and located Cordarius' mother, Charlotte Pegues. Charlotte Pegues was then arrested for the exploitation of a disabled person.
According to an arrest affidavit, in early August of 2023, MPD searched the home of where Cordarius Pegues lived with Charlotte Pegues. Police found the living conditions to be hazardous and unhygienic.
In mid-December, she was arraigned and pled not guilty.
NewsWest 9 learned that she was supposed to have a jury trial on April 15, however, it got changed to a plea hearing on April 25.
Along with Charlotte Pegues' sentencing, she will have to pay a $10,000 fine.
Five of the 10 years she was sentenced for have been probated. With that probation, she will have to pay a $1,000 fine, perform 300 hours of community service and repay $5,050 to Cordarius Pegues and his current legal representative for the welfare benefits that she kept after he no longer lived with her.
NewsWest 9 will update this story once we learn more.