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LOGAN, Utah (AP) -- A judge has awarded temporary custody of an adopted Chinese girl to a Wellsville couple, despite a 135-count federal indictment alleging their involvement in an adoption agency scam.
Scott and Karen Banks, ran the adoption agency Focus on Children and helped an Overland Park, Kan., couple adopt the girl in 2005.
But after six months, Curry and Mary Frances Kirkpatrick, gave the girl back to the Bankses under a temporary guardianship arrangement.
Both families want to adopt the girl, now 3.
After a four-day trial, 1st District Judge Stanton Taylor declined an adoption, but granted the Bankses guardianship, saying the Kirkpatricks had abandoned her.
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Information from: The Herald Journal
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
