Two out of three plead in baby selling case

Two out of the three defendants charged nearly two months ago in an alleged scheme to sell a baby for $5,000 entered pleas Tuesday morning.
The baby’s mother, Jessica Cornett, 18, and Kimberly Brick, who allegedly paid $5,000 to adopt the child, entered Alford pleas to charges that they participated in the selling of a baby.
An Alford plea means that both women still maintain their innocence, but acknowledge that prosecutors probably have enough evidence to convict at a trial.
On April 11, the grand jury charged Brick, Cornett, 18, Kenneth Couch, 22, Cornett’s boyfriend but not the baby’s father, with a violation of KRS199.590, which states, “a person, agency, or institution shall not sell or purchase, or procure for sale or purchase any child for the purpose of adoption or any other purpose including termination of parental rights.”
According to the indictment, Cornett and Couch allegedly sold the infant to Brick for $5,000 for the purposes of adoption on Feb. 9.
Prosecutors recommended a two year prison sentence for Cornett, and will neither argue for or against her receiving probation during her formal sentencing hearing set for Sept. 12. As part of the plea agreement, Judge Paul Braden also agreed to reduce her bond to a surety bond, which can be signed by her mother in order for Cornett to be released from jail.
Brick also will receive a two-year prison sentence, but prosecutors are asking for that sentence. One condition of Brick’s plea is that she testify against the other defendant’s during a trial.
Brick’s lawyer, Ron Reynolds, said Brick has tried numerous times to have a baby, but was unsuccessful.
“She received information that this baby could be adopted privately,” Reynolds said. “When she had conversations with these two individuals, they told her that the baby was up for adoption, and that they wanted to move to a city close to where the baby was in Indiana, where Mrs. Brick lived.
“During those negotiations, I think the involvement my client has in it is she didn’t fully understand the ramifications of the law when it came to loaning money in relation to the adoption of children. I don’t think she had any criminal intent when she loaned that money to these folks.
“There are documents evidencing the fact that these folks were going to repay this $5,000. What she did is probably not the smartest thing that she has ever done. It was a mistake. I think that is her involvement in the case.”
Brick will also be sentenced on Sept. 12.
Couch’s attorney still maintained his innocence during a hearing Tuesday, and asked for the case to be tried.
Braden scheduled a Jan. 19 trial.
If convicted, Couch could receive up to five years in prison.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Allen Trimble said he believes all three people involved in this case, and disputes claims by Cornett’s mother that she is merely a pawn in the case.
“Without the agreement of the mother of the child, this would not have happened,” Trimble said.