Mother Arrested For Juvenile Cruelty

Press Release: November 12, 2024

ARRESTED:
Artasia Quantaya Viges 24 years old
200 Mae Street
Eunice, LA 70535
CHARGES:
Cruelty To Juveniles (Felony)
Child Desertion (Misdemeanor)
False Swearing For Purpose of
Violating Public Health or Safety (Felony)
BOND: $ 200,000

On November 5, 2024 at about 1:00 am, the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a
kidnapping of a young child at the area of U.S. 190 and Industrial Road in Eunice. The mother, Artasia
Quantaya Viges, reported that individuals in an older model truck had kidnapped her son as she was parked on
the roadway attending to a deflated tire. Almost immediately upon arriving on scene, deputies learned that the
unattended child was found by citizens on the parking lot of Heinen Medical Clinic with abrasion injuries to his
knees. The child stated to officers that his mother “ran him over” and left him on the side of the road. The
child was transported to the nearby hospital for treatment. With this vast disparity in statements, the St. Landry
Parish Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Detectives were called in to investigate. A subsequent interview with Artasia
Viges revealed the awful truth; there was no kidnapping and a young child was left unattended along a major
roadway and allowed to run off in the night. What started as a disagreement between a mother and a child
became a bizarre reaction to the child having a tantrum. As the mother pulled the car over, the child, obviously
not properly restrained, bailed out of the car before it came to a stop, resulting in the injuries to the child’s
knees. The mother chose to leave the child out of the car, allowing him to run off in the dark, along major
roadways. The mother admitted to detectives that she did not attempt to go after him and ultimately lost sight
of him. These grievous actions led to the arrest of Artasia Viges on the listed charges.
Anyone with additional information about this crime is encouraged to call the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office
at 337-948-6516.

This is Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz. All persons are presumed innocent
until proven guilty in a court of law.