Woman must repay more than $11,000

BENTONVILLE — A Springdale woman was ordered to repay $11,022 she took from a couple who wanted to adopt her baby last year.

Julita Jabuwe, 36, also must serve 116 days in the Benton County Jail and pay $1,920 in court costs, Benton County Circuit Judge Robin Green ruled Thursday.

Jabuwe pleaded guilty Thursday to defrauding a prospective adoptive parent. The plea is under an agreement attorney Kevin Lammers reached with Brynna Barnica, deputy prosecutor. Jabuwe was arrested June 22.

John and Tia Banks of Clayton, N.C., reported to Rogers police Jan. 20, 2016, they were in the process of adopting Jabuwe’s unborn child, but learned she was

working with another family, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The child was born Jan. 15, 2016, at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, but the couple wasn’t allowed to take custody of the baby, and they hadn’t been reimbursed for any money they provided Jabuwe, according to the affidavit.

The couple said they gave Lowell attorney Vaughn-Michael Cordes $28,000 — half of which was for attorney fees and court costs and the other half was for Jabuwe, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Police obtained Jabuwe’s adoptive support payment log showing she received $11,021 from Cordes between June 18, 2015, and Dec. 31, 2015, according to the affidavit.

Jabuwe also was working with the Fayetteville-based Woodruff Law Firm for another couple to adopt her baby, according to the affidavit.

Police obtained records showing Jubuwe received $13,708 in compensation between June 15, 2015, and Jan. 28, 2016, from the other couple, who later adopted the child.

Green also placed Jabuwe on 10 years of state supervised probation with Act 346, which means her record may be expunged if she successfully completes probation.

Jabuwe