Local

Seminole grandmother charged after reporting child abuse claims hires high-profile attorney

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A Seminole County great-grandmother accused of lying about child abuse plans to fight back in court and has hired high-profile attorney Natalie Jackson to get her case thrown out.

Oradell Lee was arrested in June, accused of calling the child-abuse hot line more than 30 times because she said her great-grandchildren were being abused.

Lee was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday and officially face charges.

She said she believes her granddaughter was abusing her 6- and 8-year-old great-grandkids.

The state has continued the case because officials haven't decided whether to officially charge Lee with making false reports, but she hired Jackson just in case.

"Do you truly believe they were being hurt?" asked Channel 9's Karla Ray.

"Yes, yes," said Jackson. "And it's not the first time. It happened before. Nothing was false. Everything was true that I made those statements and those reports. It's true."

Jackson, who helped represent Trayvon Martin's family following the teen's death in Sanford, came to the courthouse Tuesday to be by Lee's side.

"The fact that she got arrested means somebody was not paying attention," said Jackson.

Jackson believes the case would be thrown out by a judge, and she hopes to get the charges dropped for a great-grandmother she said was doing the right thing.

"I think it chills everyone who would report abuse, and that's one of the egregious parts about an arrest like this," said Jackson.

Lee's arraignment has been re-scheduled for next month. Jackson said she plans to write a letter hoping to get the situation resolved before then.