A Shreveport woman, Calninitri White, who was previously arrested on criminal charges of child neglect, has had the charges dropped after a thorough review of the case.
The arrest followed a police report that claimed her apartment was infested with roaches, which led to her children being removed from the home. However, after a public outcry and an investigation, Caddo District Attorney James Stewart decided not to prosecute the case.
The Incident and Initial Charges
White was arrested on three counts of criminal neglect of family after authorities responded to a complaint about the condition of her apartment.
According to the police report, the apartment was unsanitary, and the children were removed by DCFS (Department of Children and Family Services). The conditions were reportedly severe, with roaches infesting the home.
However, White maintained her innocence and took to social media to defend herself, stating that the insect problem had been repeatedly reported to the apartment manager, but no action had been taken.
White’s Social Media Statement:
“If you know me and my babies in real life, you know the truth: they are well-fed, joyful, and beautifully groomed. I believe in not looking like what you’re going through. No matter how hard things get, I make sure the world sees sunshine on our faces — never the storm behind it.”
Investigation and Charges Dropped
Following the arrest, White’s supporters and the public took to social media, demanding justice and accountability. Caddo District Attorney James Stewart responded to the growing backlash and reviewed the case.
In his statement, Stewart confirmed that White had made multiple attempts to address the issue with her apartment management, submitting three requests for service in 2025 regarding the insect infestation.
Stewart also emphasized that no drugs or firearms were found in the apartment, and there were no visible injuries on the children. In light of this, he declined to pursue charges, stating that the case was best resolved through volunteer community agency assistance rather than criminal prosecution.
Stewart’s statement read:
“We were provided proof that Ms. White, an employed single mother of three small children, submitted three requests for service in the year 2025 to her apartment management, regarding insect problems inside the apartment.”
White’s Response and Community Support
White expressed her relief and frustration over the situation, stating that she had done everything in her power to protect her children while facing difficult circumstances. She pointed out that if she were truly neglecting her children, she would have chosen to live on the streets, without the basic necessities of food, shelter, and stability.
White’s statement:
“If I were truly neglecting my children, I would have chosen the streets — with no stove to cook on, no bed for them to sleep in. That would have been true neglect. But instead, I acted proactively, exhausted every option available to me, and did everything in my power to keep them safe and stable.”
Community and Political Support
The case gained further traction when local leaders, including State Representative Steven Jackson, rallied behind White. Rep. Jackson contacted officials to express his concerns over the situation, highlighting that it was the landlord and property owner who should be held responsible for the conditions in the apartment.
He called for charges to be brought against the landlord, noting that White had made efforts to address the situation through proper channels.
Jackson stated:
“The landlord and property owner should be facing charges. Ms. White did everything she could to protect her family, and it’s unfair to place the blame on her for circumstances beyond her control.”
Source
