Court orders former Oklahoma County District judge Tammy Bass-LeSure to pay nearly $70,000

Court orders former Oklahoma County District judge Tammy Bass-LeSure to pay nearly $70,000


Former Oklahoma County district judge Tammy Bass-LeSure and her husband were ordered to pay the restitution in connection with an adoption fraud case.



BY TIM WILLERT twillert@opubco.com
Published: May 4, 2012 110

Former Oklahoma County District Judge Tammy Bass-LeSure and her husband were ordered Thursday to repay nearly $70,000 plus interest to the state in an adoption fraud case.



Former Oklahoma County District Judge Tammy Bass-LeSure leaves a courtroom Thursday after her restitution hearing. Photos by Paul B. Southerland, The Oklahoman


Article Gallery: Court orders former Oklahoma County District judge Tammy Bass-LeSure to pay nearly $70,000

“A person who had a high position of authority should be held to a higher standard,” Garfield County District Judge Paul K. Woodward, who heard the case, told the couple.

Bass-LeSure, 44, pleaded guilty March 2 to two felony counts of obtaining public assistance by false representation. Her husband, Karlos Bass-LeSure, 48, pleaded guilty to one felony count of obtaining public assistance by false representation and one felony count of attempting to obtain public assistance.

They were accused of secretly giving twin babies to Ravonda L. Edwards, the sister of the judge's bailiff, after becoming the twins' foster parents. The couple became foster parents for the twins in 2008 and adopted them in 2010.

Edwards, 42, faces six felony counts in the case. She is due back in court June 1.

Defense attorneys argued during Thursday's restitution hearing that the couple did not owe any restitution because their children were entitled to money from adoption subsidies and foster care payments.

“There is no proof, none, that money was diverted from its intended purpose,” attorney David Autry told the judge. “We don't believe the LeSures owe anything.”


http://newsok.com/court-orders-former-oklahoma-county-district-judge-tammy-bass-lesure-to-pay-nearly-70000/article/3672031#ixzz1txzOwK3U

Editor's note:“A person who had a high position of authority should be held to a higher standard,” The judges of the Probate Court of Cook county, who are in "bed" with probate lawyers, nursing homes and case management companies should take heed of this quote. Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com

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