5/6/2014 – OKC, OK — A Norman daycare teacher and mother of three, that worked nights as an Internet prostitute, has been convicted and sentenced to prison for her role in robbing and shooting a ‘John’ in far south Oklahoma City. Surprisingly, she writes to the judge to thank him for giving her an opportunity to “better myself for my children.”
As JohnTV previously reported, Kassady Lesiter, 26, was arrested back in June of last year.
According to court records, in the early morning hours of June 27, 2014, James Garcia, 34 (who is not happy he’s named on this website), was perusing the prostitution ads on Backpage.com when he came across an ad posted by Lesiter (see below, click for larger version)…
Kassady Lesiter Backpage.com ad tied to robbery shooting
Garcia then contacted Lesiter and agreed to “an hour or two session” for $200 and gave her directions to his home in the 700 block of SW 104th Place, in Oklahoma City (Cleveland County).
Around 1:00 a.m. Lesiter arrived in a truck that was occupied by two other white males. One of those men was later identified as 28-year-old Christopher Adam Banschbach – a previously convicted violent felon.
Lesiter entered Garcia’s home and after Garcia locked the front door the two went to Garcia’s bedroom. Garcia reportedly gave Lesiter $200, both of them removed their clothes and Lesiter began performing oral sex on Garcia “for about five minutes.”
Apparently while all of this was going on, Lesiter’s cell phone was ringing repeatedly.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Lesiter, still naked, left Garcia’s room and unlocked and opened the front door. As this was happening, Garcia was reportedly putting his pants on and placed a knife in his back pocket because he became concerned for his safety.
Banschbach, wearing plain clothes, entered Garcia’s bedroom brandishing a handgun and identifying himself as a police officer. Lesiter also re-enters the bedroom to retrieve her clothing. Banschbach tells Garcia this is a police sting, to put his hands on the wall and asks Garcia if he has any weapons. Banschbach then takes an additional $200, Garcia’s pocket knife and his cell phone.
At this point a second (and yet to be identified) white male enters the residence and starts going through things.
Garcia, realizing this is a robbery and not a police sting (duh!) begins arguing with the two males. Banschbach then fires a single shot from his pistol – striking Garcia in the forearm and abdomen. All three assailants flee the house as Garcia reportedly chases them into his front yard, gets a basic description of their vehicle and calls police.
Apparently this entire time, Garcia had a roommate who was home and remained in his own bedroom without calling police (yeah, with friends like that, who needs enemies!).
When police arrived, Garcia was able to show them Lesiter’s Backpage ad which contained very recognizable photos of her and her distinctive tattoos.
Copies of Lesiter’s photos were posted online and given to local news media outlets who reported that police were trying to identify her (see below)…
OCPD Facebook Post regarding a robbery/shooting suspect.
According to police, several people recognized Lesiter’s photos as a woman they knew as a daycare teacher working at Kids Choice Child Care in Norman. Police were also pointed to Lesiter’s (still) publicly accessible Facebook account.
Kassady Lesiter daycare job photo from her Facebook.
Norman police located Lesiter hiding out at the Super 8 motel on I-35 after a tip came in to 911. When confronted, Lesiter admitted she was the person featured on the news and that she knew Banschbach had a gun and that she also knew there was the possibility Garcia would be robbed. Lesiter claimed however that she thought if she had sex with Garcia and collected the $200 that Banschbach might not go ahead with the robbery.
Police were able to track down Banschbach after placing a GPS trace on the phone number used in the Backpage.com advertisement.
On July 1, 2014, Lesiter was formally charged in Cleveland County with felony robbery with a firearm and assault and battery with a deadly weapon. The next day, Banschbach was also charged with the same crimes. The third suspect has apparently never been identified.
Kassady Lesiter Mugshot
By the time Lesiter and Banschbach had been criminally charged, JohnTV had three times reported on their criminal activity (article 1, article 2, article 3), which apparently drew the ire of Lesiter’s husband, Arthur ‘Bud’ Lesiter – as evident in this Facebook private message he sent JohnTV back in December of last year (click for larger version)…
Naturally, JohnTV’s own Video Vigilante Brian Bates responded in his usual non-politically correct way…
There never was a “…followup article” posted. Because, like is often the case, after both ‘Bud’ and Bates ranted back and forth and called each other names like two 12-year olds on the playground, the communications eventually turned to the real issue at hand – as seen in these followup messages…
Lesiter posted the following picture of her three children to her Facebook account just four days before she committed the crimes that would forever change her life…
On March 9, 2015 Lesiter entered a blind plea of guilty and awaited sentencing from a Cleveland County judge. Lesiter faced a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of life.
Prior to Lesiter’s formal sentencing, ‘Bud’, Lesiter’s aunt and her step father all sent letters to the Judge in hopes of a prison sentence less than life (click for larger image)…
Monday before last, Lesiter stood before Cleveland County Judge Thad Balkman to be formally sentenced for her admitted crimes.
Lesiter’s cooperation, lack of prior criminal history and family support must have weighed heavily in her favor as Judge Balkman sentenced Lesiter to the minimum prison term of five years (with credit for time already served). A sentence JohnTV supports in light of the facts surrounding the entirety of the case.
Click here to see Lesiter’s Oklahoma Department of Corrections status.
Two days after being sentenced to prison, Lesiter sent a handwritten letter to Judge Balkman thanking him for his leniency and promising to use her time behind bars to “..better myself for my children..” You can read Lesiter’s letter below (click for larger image)…
Lesiter is next scheduled to go before the court on Oct. 17, of next year for a review.
JohnTV sincerely hopes that Lesiter is able to re-evaluate her life and her priorities. She will need lots of family support if she is to overcome her addictions and now a very serious criminal and prison record.
JohnTV hopes the detail provided in this article gives additional insight to the reality and destruction prostitution and addiction has on individuals and entire families.
JohnTV will continue to follow Banschbach’s case – which is still ongoing.
Kassady Lesiter Facebook pic.
Kassady Lesiter DOC Mugshot 2015