ENID, Okla. — An Oklahoma woman charged last year with welfare fraud, child abuse and obtaining money by false pretense after lying about her daughter’s treatment for cancer pleaded guilty Thursday to all charges.

Jessica Lynn Good, 33, entered the courtroom visibly upset and crying prior to her hearing. 

During Thursday’s appearance, Good entered pleas of guilty to each of the 12 counts, including child abuse, six counts of obtaining money or property by false pretense for charitable or benevolent purposes, two counts of use of a computer for purpose of executing a scheme to obtain money or property by false pretense, food stamp fraud, fraudulently obtaining Medicaid assistance and fraud in obtaining assistance.

After each plea, District Judge Paul Woodward asked Good, “Because you are guilty?” She replied each time, “Yes, your honor.”

Good was first charged in August 2016 when those who helped her raise funds to pay for treatments for her daughter’s terminal cancer shared their suspicions with police. Investigators found thousands of dollars had been raised for the benefit of Good’s daughter, who did not have cancer.

Dr. Mary Stockett, with OU Children’s Hospital Child Abuse Pediatrics, reviewed some of the records for Good’s daughter, finding most of Good’s claims about her daughter’s health to be false, according to one of the affidavits filed in that case. The report states there was no evidence of a surgery to remove a brain tumor from the girl, as was often reported in Good’s social media posts and notes to doctors.

Good admitted to Enid Police Department Detective Robin Bench her claims about her daughter were false, according to an affidavit filed in that case.

Good was charged a month later with felony charges of food stamp fraud, fraudulently obtaining Medicaid assistance and fraud in obtaining assistance.

Those charges stemmed from a tip to Oklahoma Department of Human Services Office of the Inspector General received July 27, 2016, stating Good was receiving welfare fraudulently.

It was reported Good failed to report her husband’s income to DHS. If she had reported the income as required, she would not have been eligible to receive welfare benefits, according to an affidavit filed in the case. From April 2015 through July 2016, Good received SNAP benefits, Medicaid and State Supplemental Payment through DHS. 

Bench spoke with Alan Seibel, associate pastor of Oakwood Christian Church, about the possible fraud, according to an affidavit filed in the first felony case.

Seibel said he was afraid Good was using her 4-year-old daughter — identified as KG in court documents — and her illness to obtain money from the church and church members, according to the affidavit. Seibel told Bench this activity had gone on for about three years. Seibel said the girl appeared to be normal, but Good told everyone she had several illnesses.

Seibel said Good told the church her daughter had cancer, several seizures, was undergoing stem cell research and was on a waiting list for a heart transplant, according to the affidavit. Seibel said he had seen Good’s daughter, and she did not act like a child who had gone through chemotherapy and the girl never lost her hair.

Seibel told Bench the church had given Good more than $5,000 over the past several years, and he said the church gave the family the funds because Good said they needed them for medical expenses and they were behind on mortgage payments, according to the affidavit.

Seibel said members of the church would offer help, such as assistance with travel for doctors appointments and watching the other children, but Good always made excuses, such as appointments being canceled, according to the affidavit. Seibel said there had been “numerous” fundraisers held for the girl and “numerous” private donations made to the Good family. He said Good set up multiple GoFundMe accounts, T-shirt sales and other sites.

Woodward set sentencing for Oct. 23.

Good faces from one year in county jail up to life in prison and/or a fine of $500 to $5,000 on the child abuse charge. She also faces one year in county jail, up to three years in prison and/or a fine not exceeding the money or property obtained on each of the six charges of obtaining money or property by false pretense for charitable or benevolent purposes, and a fine of $5,000 to $100,000 and/or up to 10 years in prison on each of the two counts of use of a computer for purpose of executing a scheme to obtain money or property by false pretense.

She faces up to two years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000 on the charges of food stamp fraud and fraud in obtaining assistance, and up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000 on the charge of fraudulently obtaining Medicaid assistance.

Rains writes for the Enid, Oklahoma News.