Man says he never paid for baby

PUEBLO – The man who police say bought a 5-month-old baby says he was simply trying to act in the best interest of the child.

Jose-Juan Lerma, 48, and his 28-year-old wife, Irene, were taken into custody Tuesday on charges of child trafficking.

Pueblo Police say they paid Nicole Uribe for her baby, and she then put a down payment on a Dodge Intrepid.

Lerma says he didn’t pay for the baby. He says he gave Uribe a $1,500 loan to help her get back on her feet.

Uribe was also arrested for charges of child trafficking.

Uribe and Irene Lerma are still in the Pueblo County Jail on immigration holds.

Jose-Juan Lerma says Uribe was living with them and was thinking about giving away her baby.

He says he told her she should think about it, and then she offered to let them take care of the baby.

“I told her think about it first. If you think we're the right person we'll help you, we'll help the little boy,” said Lerma.

“She wanted a school and somebody to love him (the baby),” he said. “It hurts me when I see kids suffering.”

He says they went to a notary, thinking that would make the transfer of custody legal. 9NEWS confirmed that the notary stamped a simple document that stated the Lermas would take care of the child and provide education and basic needs.

Lerma is an American citizen from Mexico, and apparently notaries have much more power in Mexico.

Cynthia Noah, with Adoption Alliance, says adoption law varies around the world, and even from state to state.

“We have highly educated people call us with questions because they don’t understand what the process is,” said Noah. “Culturally, someone comes here, they are going to go to whoever they think is the right person based on what they know from their own country.”

Lerma says when he first came to the United States people helped him out and he wanted to give help back.

Lerma also says Uribe’s boyfriend was in the hospital.

He says he was told about the allegations against them while Uribe and his wife were visiting Uribe’s boyfriend.

“I said, ‘Why are you saying that? These things are not true,’” said Lerma. “I got to defend myself because God knows I did nothing wrong.”

“I don’t feel bad because I just did it because I’ve got a good heart,” he said. “You never buy a life from nobody.”