BENTONVILLE -- A Huntsville woman pleaded not guilty to defrauding adoptive parents.
Meryann Lomae, 34, is charged with defrauding prospective parents and entered the plea Monday at an arraignment before Circuit Judge Robin Green.
Vaugh-Michael Cordes with the Cordes Law Firm filed a complaint in August claiming Lomae knowingly took money from prospective adoptive parents with the purpose to defraud the couple, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Lomae met with Cordes in January 2017 and agreed to the adoption, according to the affidavit.
Lomae received $13,800.69 in financial assistance from money the couple provided through the law firm, according to court documents.
Cordes said he received a call on Aug. 1 from someone at Willow Creek Women's Hospital who wanted contact information for Lomae and reported she had given birth on July 25 at the hospital, the affidavit states.
The hospital employee told Cordes she believed the baby boy had been adopted and thought Cordes handled the adoption, according to the affidavit.
Cordes said one of his employees heard that Lomae had placed the child for adoption through another attorney, according to court documents.
A pretrial hearing for Lomae is scheduled for 8 a.m. March 5.
Lomae is free on $3,500 bond.
NW News on 01/30/2018