Judge’s fraud hearing opens

OKLAHOMA COUNTY OFFICIAL IS ACCUSED OF GIVING AWAY ADOPTED TWINS TO BAILIFF’S SISTER

The first witnesses at a preliminary hearing for an Oklahoma County judge accused of adoption fraud testified Tuesday that she never picked up or dropped off her twins at day care centers.

District Judge Tammy Bass-lesure, 44, is accused in a felony fraud, perjury and conspiracy case of secretly giving away the twins to her bailiff’s sister, Ravonda L. Edwards.

The judge and her husband became the twins’ foster parents a few months after the boy and girl were born in October 2007. They adopted the twins in May 2010.

Prosecutors allege the children actually were being raised by Edwards the entire time.

Edwards, 41, and the judge’s husband, Karlos Lesure, 47, also are charged in the case. All have denied wrongdoing.

Defense attorneys suggested Edwards was only helping the busy judge with the children. Defense attorneys allege prosecutors charged the judge for political reasons.

“They try to make out that this is something ... sinister,” said Edwards’ attorney, Gary James. “It takes a village to raise a child, and that’s what goes on in the real world.”

Prosecutors put on their first four witnesses Tues- day in the largely circumstantial case.

They plan to call more than 20 witnesses during the preliminary hearing.

Testimony resumes Wednesday.

Three of the first witnesses worked at day care centers the children attended. One testified to