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Show The Salt Lake Tribune NATION Wednesday, Sep r 24, 1997 LOSE Rant Borer lace) To Be Declared Girl’s Mom SACRAMENTO BEE SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Leah Bracken, the woman who raised a baby given to her bya prostitute four years ago, has asked a judge to declare her the de facto mother of the child. “T have raised [her] as my own daughter, and my life has cen- tered around her care. I have been the onlyparent [the child] has known since her fifth day of life,” Bracken stated in declarations filed Monday in Sacramento Superior Court. Bracken, who claims to have been the sole provider for thelittle girl's ‘educational, psycholog- ical and physical support,” had the child taken away by county authorities in July when Bracken was arrested on criminal charges. The 41-year-old woman, who was on probation at the time for welfare fraud out of Santa Clara County, wasinitially arrested on chargesofillegally buying another human being and welfare fraud. = Zk See ae Welfare-Fraud Suspect Asks ann SacramentoCountysheriff's officials said they had received a tip that she had paid $20 to an unknownprostitute for the newborn girl in 1993 Prosecutors, however, declined Shaw &Sale to file a child-purchasing charge, saying there was not enoughevi- dence. They did file welfare fraud and Perjury charges accusing Bracken of claiming to be the mother of presecane the baby to illegallycollect governmentaid. She is free on bail while awaiting a preliminary hearing on those charges. Bracken has told the Sacramento Bee that she didn’t pay for the child, but that she did help the child's mother out with food and money. Soon after the baby was born, the motherwasarrested. Friends caring for the newborn took the child to Bracken’s home in a dresser drawer taken from a nearby motel, Bracken told the newspaper. sn/The Associated Press ’ TONGUE ON TOUR Luc Montini,left, and Gabriel Bronnimann, both from Basel, Switzerland, arrive early for the opening ofthe Rolling Stones’ 33-city “Bridges to Babylon” tour Tuesdayat Soldier Field in Chicago. The Stoneswill release an album by the same name next Tuesday. Fri.-Sun. September PAOroe AT THE NEW HEXTENT EPAEeeeetee Lake Dr. -: West Valley City wy ENTER TO WIN a new 1998 POLARIS SNOWBMOBILE Listen to KODJ det an Everything for snowmobiling and winter sports under one roof!!! See all the new 1998 snowmobile models, experience the exciting sport of snowmobile racing on blacktop! Buy the latest fashions for winter sports, learn how to survive an avalanche, join the U.S.A.! Cerone Soe OES Raed iy oy paid emgBSied aeom Cr mURaoa rent GiciteaeNCTS) eo fs Oa Witnessthe World Premier of DuneSport EMail | d Ox ADMISSION a ol crn Fa TTUSEMOR LCOSACDg Cae oe) URL ee CULE TSC) A eer ORO OULU Only $1.00 with or without erent eat SMUea ae eC LF SNCems COREL ST Ue Oe Cee SUE a PAPA STARCH)A A AY ASSIA UROL Pee LL ULM AL eA eaed i |
