Runaway ‘Dentist’ Dodges Detection From Aggravated Assault to Dental Drama
While TikTok may be a go-to app for funny videos, it’s probably not the best way to find a new dentist.
includes a December 2016 conviction for the delivery of a controlled substance.
Last year, Texas-based “dentist” Nikki Calloway used TikTok to generate buzz for her business, ISmilez Cosmetic Designz. The campaign attracted new patients, including one who scheduled an appointment after receiving a $1,350 quote from Calloway to have 16 teeth removed, replaced, and a bridge added. There was only one problem: “Nikki Calloway” wasn’t a licensed dentist. In reality, she was Juanetta Solomon, a notorious local felon with a long history of crime. The botched dental surgery left the patient dizzy, bleeding, and with a tooth that fell out shortly afterward — and prompted Solomon to go on the run from the law. According to authorities, Solomon had operated her “dentistry” office while out on bond for a weapons charge. Her past offenses include assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and unlawful carrying of a weapon by a felon — and that was just in 2023 and 2024! In one infamous case, she was accused of shooting at her boyfriend’s former girlfriend. Her record also
“Juanetta Solomon is the definition of a career habitual offender,” commented Andy Kahan,
director of victim services and advocacy at Crime Stoppers of Houston, in a story on Katy Magazine Online. “She’s been in prison multiple times in different counties, so it’s no surprise she is once again wanted. Her latest offense is extremely brutal, pretending to be a dentist [and] causing undue pain and stress on individuals, so the quicker we get her back in custody, the less anyone has to suffer as a result of her criminal conduct.” Law enforcement was still attempting to capture Solomon at the time of this writing. Her bizarre turn as a “dentist” serves as a chilling reminder that Google and a little research — not social media — are the best tools to determine whether your chosen provider is a professional or someone destined for prison.
STOP THE SCROLL Helping Teens Ditch Distracted Driving
Apps That Keep Distractions in Check
A quick text, the buzz of a notification, or a scroll through a playlist — these tiny distractions on a cellphone can lead to serious consequences on the road. For teen drivers, distracted driving is one of the most common dangers behind the wheel. January is Teen Driving Awareness Month, and it’s an excellent time to talk to your young drivers about the risks of distracted driving. Here are some travel tips to help teens stay off their phones while driving and embrace safer habits. Set Up and Stay Safe Your teen will likely never leave home without their cellphone, so teach them to set up everything they need before starting the car. If they use GPS or music on their
drive, ensure they know to connect to their Bluetooth before they hit the road. Once they have everything ready, their phone should go somewhere out of reach, like in the glove compartment or their bag. Their hands should not touch their devices once they have started the car. Phone a Friend or Wait Though too many passengers in your teen’s vehicle can be a distraction, if they have a friend in the car, they can rely on that person to act as their navigator. Someone who isn’t driving can answer texts or calls that may come in for the driver or do tasks like looking up directions or changing songs. If your teen is driving solo, they should get into the habit of waiting to call or text someone back later.
Various apps are designed to help teens avoid using their phones while driving. Most phones today come with a driving or focus feature that limits notifications, calls, and texts while driving. It will send out an automatic response that the driver is in “do not disturb mode.” There are also apps that will share your young driver’s location with you and allow you to monitor driving speeds or phone usage. Driving is an exciting part of adulthood but comes with big responsibilities. As parents and trusted adults, it’s up to us to help teach our teens the importance of safe driving habits, especially when it comes to cellphones.
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