County takes custody of newborn (Father is convicted sex offender)

[Freddie Stubbs]

Schuylkill County Children and Youth Services gained custody of DaiShin WolfHawk’s son Wednesday, a day after his wife, Melissa WolfHawk, gave birth to the child in a Chester County hospital.

The WolfHawks’ attorney will appear today in Schuylkill County Court in an effort to regain custody, amid a legal battle playing out in both state and federal court between Mrs. WolfHawk and the agency. The crux of the matter hinges on her husband’s status as a convicted sex offender, the best interests of the child and the rights of his parents. A federal judge is expected to rule by Tuesday in a separate case on whether the mother’s civil rights have been violated.

“He’s healthy. He’s still at the hospital,” Mary Catherine Roper, the WolfHawks’ attorney from the American Civil Liberties Union, said Thursday of the boy, who was born at Jennersville Regional Hospital, West Grove.

A hospital administrator said Thursday he couldn’t talk about the issue, citing patient privacy rules. He would not disclose the boy’s name.

more: http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15428374&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=415898&rfi=6

[rodeodance]

1. it is more than the father whose parenting is being questioned.

....The agency already has custody of Ms. WolfHawk’s 8-year-old son, and Maryland officials have custody of her 1-year-old daughter.

It has expressed concerns that the boy could be in danger because of Mr. WolfHawk’s criminal past.

Ms. Roper said the agency also raised concerns about the mother’s alleged history of drug abuse.

Mr. WolfHawk said he and his wife were appalled ?at the county’s actions Wednesday.

“Here’s a baby being breast-fed by its mother, and they’re saying that the mother’s a danger to the baby,”? Mr. WolfHawk said by phone Thursday. “What were they doing? They were trying to grab the baby before it even had its shots, circumcised, anything.?”

[rodeodance]

2. right. have the council who made the decision pay the bill!

.....The town will not appeal a court order to pay Darla Wynne's lawyer, Herbert Buhl, about $53,000. But town attorney Michael Hemlepp said officials aren't sure where they'll get the money.

Hemlepp said the town can't simply afford to write a check. The town's annual budget is $870,000.