Lawyer says Arizona official miscast as human smuggler

This undated photo provided by the Maricopa County Assessor's Office shows Assessor Paul Petersen. Petersen has been indicted in an adoption fraud case, accused of arranging for dozens of pregnant women from the Marshall Islands to come to the U.S. to give their children up for adoption. Utah also has charged him on multiple felony counts, including human smuggling, sale of a child and communications fraud. (Maricopa County Assessor's Office via AP) The Associated Press

Alanna Mabey holds her grandson in front of her home, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019, in West Valley City, Utah. Paul Petersen sold the house this spring as complaints mounted from neighbors in the working-class area in suburban Salt Lake City, said new owner Mabey. Authorities say Petersen used homes like this one to lodge pregnant women from the Marshall Islands who were offered money to come to the U.S. to give up their children for adoption. Petersen, the assessor of Arizona's most populous county, was charged in Utah, Arizona and Arkansas with counts including human smuggling, sale of a child, fraud, forgery and conspiracy to commit money laundering. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) The Associated Press

A Utah home that was owned by an Arizona elected official charged with human smuggling in an adoption fraud scheme is shown Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019, in West Valley City, Utah. Authorities say Paul Petersen used homes like this one to lodge pregnant women from Marshall Islands who were offered money to come to the U.S. to give up their children for adoption. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) The Associated Press