Paul Marquez
Paul Marquez said he was selling the baby because she had asthma (Facebook)

A man from Staten Island has been arrested after trying to sell his girlfriend's two-month-old baby on Craigslist.

Paul Marquez, who is in his early 20s, posted the advert because his girlfriend, Katie Devalle, was not paying him enough attention.

He was charging $100 (£65) for the child and said she was not wanted because she had asthma. He put Devalle's number on the advert and a picture of the baby.

The advert read: "I have a 2-month-old baby, she loves to play and have her little fun, but there's one problem, doctors say she has asthma and if she turns a certain way she can stop breathing. She's really getting on my nerves and I don't want her."

According to the New York Post, one person contacted Devalle, 19, about the advert, wanting to buy her baby. "That person then called mom and did in fact offer to buy the child," a source said.

Police are now trying to establish if the user had called as a prank or was trying to purchase the child.

Marquez was found after two separate users complained to the police about the advert. He was traced through his IP address, arrested and charged with harassment and endangering the welfare of a child.

Wanted a laugh

Authorities said the original advert, posted in the baby and kids section, was flagged and taken down, but Marquez reposted it.

He is currently being held on $1,000 bail and has also been charged with a social service violation. If convicted, he faces up to a year in jail.

Papers filed in court show Marquez said he posted the advert to "get back" at Devalle because she had not been paying him enough attention. The pair had met online and been on a few dates.

According to the New York Daily News, he said: "The reason I decided to put this post was because I got bored and wanted to get a little laugh and a little kick out of it, but nothing serious."

A police source also told the Post: "He was apparently upset she wouldn't pay him more attention and posted the two ads as revenge. The mom didn't have time for him. She was working all the time."

Daniel Donovan, a spokesman for Staten Island District Attorney said Marquez was due in court, later today (6 August).

Facebook New York