Mother and daughter sentenced in fraud case Tuesday, March 29, 2005 9:42 PM CST Wetumpka — District Attorney, Randall Houston, of the 19" Judicial Circuit, announced today that in Elmore County Circuit Court Cherish Strength Tarbox, and her mother, Jenny Lodge were sentenced in connection with the 2003 adoption fraud scam whereby they defrauded three families of nearly $17,000.00. Tarbox and Lodge each pled guilty to two counts of Theft I by Deception and one count of Theft II by Deception. Circuit Court Judge, John Bush sentenced the pair each to 13 years on the two counts of Theft I by Deception and 10 years on the count of Theft II by Deception followed by 5 years of probation. The sentences were split and Judge Bush ordered them to serve 21 months on each count consecutively and pay over $30,000 restitution. According to District Attorney Randall Houston, he ordered them to each serve 63 months day for day, which is approximately 5 years. When addressing Tarbox before sentencing, Judge Bush stated, "You have abused the trust the Lord gave you in having the ability to have children and what I do here today doesn't touch the judgment you will face (on Judgment Day)."

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