BURLINGTON, Vt. -
The mom of two small children accused of burglarizing several homes with her kids alongside was arrested again yesterday. This time, police say she stole money from someone she knew.
"We have seen her behavior, nothing has changed," Deputy Chief Andi Higbee of the Burlington Police Department said.
25 year old Shawna Hosmer is accused of having her two year old son and five year old daughter with her as she broke into and robbed several homes. Thursday, just two weeks after her last court appearance, police say Hosmer was back at it again and stole money from a man she knew who was in her apartment.
"The caller shared information that she heard a woman screaming and that there was some sort of altercation," Deputy Chief Higbee said.
Each time so far, Hosmer was released by the judge and remained the sole guardian of her kids. I asked the Chittenden County State's Attorney if the system failed?
"Should we be releasing into the custody of a 23 year old to a 25 year old with two kids and what appears to be a pretty bad drug problem? Probably not," TJ Donovan said.
My biggest question is what's going to happen to her two kids now? So I stopped by Hosmer's apartment to see if Casey Devenger was home. She's the 23 year old who Hosmer was released to and has been deemed her responsible adult by the judge, but when I knocked, no one came to the door.
"The only thing I can tell you is that the children were not with her yesterday," Deputy Chief Higbee said.
The Department for Children and Families is involved, and this time, Hosmer is in custody. Deputy Chief Higbee says releasing her again would be a mistake.
"The road she's going down is truly dangerous," he said.
The State's Attorney will have to decide whether drug rehab, jail or a combination of the two is best for Hosmer and her children.
Police say not even the possibility of a 15 year prison sentence has been enough to stop this mom from stealing.
Hosmer will be arraigned on this newest charge in mid-October, until then, she'll be behind bars.
