Second father challenges Tulsa adoption agency

A Tulsa adoption agency that was reversed by the state Supreme Court in one adoption case is facing a challenge from a second unwed father. <br><br>Cray E. Hall, 15, of Redwood Valley, Calif., and his

Tuesday, March 19th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A Tulsa adoption agency that was reversed by the state Supreme Court in one adoption case is facing a challenge from a second unwed father.

Cray E. Hall, 15, of Redwood Valley, Calif., and his parents are going to court to stop the adoption of his 3-month-old daughter by a Texas couple through Hannah's Prayer Adoption Agency.

Tulsa attorney Ben Faulkner says the baby's mother moved from California to Tulsa to hide the pregnancy and that Hall did not have a chance to defend his parental rights.

``Hannah's Prayer basically imported this young woman from California, boarded her and then adopted out her baby and made it as difficult as possible for the birth father or his family to do anything about it,'' Faulkner said.

The 15-year-old mother lives in Tulsa. The parents met in a church youth group in California.

Tulsa attorney Gentner Drummond represents Hannah's Prayer and said the agency has acted in the best interest of the child.

``The Halls had their chance to contest the matter in Tulsa District Court and failed to do so,'' Drummond said. ``The child has been placed with a stable, loving Christian family.''

The baby's paternal grandmother, Sharlene Hall, said she has unsuccessfully pleaded with the adoption agency.

``I told them this is something I would fight for until the day I died,'' Hall said.

Oklahoma's Supreme Court reversed a 1999 adoption by Hannah's Prayer after the agency had the parental rights of Joseph Ferguson of Tulsa terminated. The boy's birth mother reportedly hid the pregnancy from Ferguson.

The child had been placed with an Ohio couple by the adoption agency. Ferguson won custody of his biological son, Brandon Ferguson, now 4.

Ferguson sued Hannah's Prayer and settled the matter out of court.