Man Charged with Aggravated Kidnapping After Stealing Vehicle with Three Children Inside

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas. A man has been arrested after authorities say he stole a vehicle with three young children inside before releasing one child and being stopped by police with the other two still in the vehicle.

According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded Sunday night, July 5, to the 700 block of Aldine Mail Route after receiving a report of a vehicle theft involving children.

Investigators said the children’s mother had gone inside a store, leaving her three children, ages 1, 3 and 10, inside the vehicle.

Authorities allege that Xavion Starks entered the unattended vehicle and drove away with the children still inside.

According to investigators, Starks later let one of the children out of the vehicle, while the other two remained inside.

A short time later, officers with the Humble Police Department located and stopped the vehicle. Starks was taken into custody, and the remaining two children were safely recovered.

Following the investigation, Starks was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and two counts of aggravated kidnapping.

He was booked into the Harris County Jail.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office credited its deputies and the Humble Police Department for their quick response in safely recovering the children.