Kidnapping case takes turn
Published 12:00 am Friday, October 16, 2015
LaGRANGE — The mother of a 4-month-old child who was allegedly kidnapped by his father took the stand Thursday in Troup County Magistrate Court and said she lied about the incident to LaGrange police.
The woman, Shoquavious Colton, testified on behalf of her baby’s father, Xavier Warrior, 20, of LaGrange.
Warrior was charged with kidnapping under the Family Violence Act, battery and burglary.
According to LaGrange Police Detective Milton Ligon, Xavier Warrior and his brother, Zandale, 23, were accused by Shoquavious Colton and her cousin, Briant Colton, 23, of allegedly forcing their way into her apartment on North Cary Street in the early morning hours of Sept. 27.
Ligon said Briant Colton, who was taking care of the baby, told him the two men assaulted him by kicking and striking him with their hands and fists, resulting in visible injuries. According to Colton, the males then took the child from the home.
The detective testified Shoquavious Colton called LaGrange police around 4 a.m. when she returned to the residence and learned the baby had allegedly been kidnapped by the child’s father.
Ligon said the infant was found unharmed after the girlfriend of Zandale Warrior called Shoquavious and told her the baby was with her at the Tall Pines Apartment complex on Turner Street.
The detective also told the court Xavier Warrior admitted to LaGrange police he did force his way into the Cary Street apartment that night, beat the babysitter and took the infant to his brother’s girlfriend’s home. The two men then left town, Ligon added.
In an unusual move, once Ligon finished his testimony, Xavier Warrior’s defense attorney, Ken Gordon, called Shoquavious Colton to the stand to testify on his client’s behalf.
She told the court that the father comes in and out of the apartment all the time, and except for one incident, is allowed to be inside the home and see his child.
“Yes, he has permission to take his child … he is a good father,” Colton said. “But he knows how I am with my kid. I don’t play … it would have been better if he had told me he had my son.”
She also admitted the incident did not exactly happen as it was reported to LaGrange police.
“My cousin (babysitter, Briant Colton) later told me he was asleep on the couch with the baby in his arms and he left the door open,” she testified. “And the baby’s father (Xavier Warrior) just walked in … I don’t know what started the confrontation … but he (Briant Colton) was afraid to tell me about the door … but I have my baby back and that’s all that matters.”
But the prosecution was quick to jump on Colton’s admission she may have known more than she was telling.
“So, you’re saying you lied to police that night or now,” the prosecution asked her.
“Yes,” she replied. “I said some things in the heat of the moment.”
In the end, Shoquavious Colton’s testimony was not enough to sway presiding Judge Vicki Sue McWaters. The judge bound the case over to Troup County Superior Court.
Afterward, prosecutor Jep Bendinger walked to the back of the courtroom and said something to Colton.
“Is that supposed to be a threat,” she asked as he walked away.
The Daily News asked Bendinger if Colton could face charges for lying to police or on the stand while testifying.
“No comment,” he said. “That will be up to law enforcement.”
LaGrange Police Lt. Dale Strickland said detectives are now investigating Shoquavious Colton and may charge her at a later date.