Judge frees jailed mom of 15; kids stay in foster care

[FLAprogressive]

TAMPA - Saying she did not wish to burden the taxpayers any longer, a circuit judge this morning released Angel Adams, the homeless mother of 12 dependent children who was jailed last week after refusing to tell the court whether she was pregnant for the 16th time in 21 years.

Adams, 37, appeared today before Hillsborough Circuit Judge Tracy Sheehan for the third time since Thursday. That's when the judge found Adams in contempt for refusing to testify and placed the 12 children in foster care.

"I, in no way, will reward you for your contemptuous behavior," the judge said, "apology or not."

*snip*


Hillsborough Kids Inc., the child-welfare agency assisting Adams, had worked for a week to secure Section 8 housing for her and the children. A six-bedroom, two-story home in Sulphur Springs was being prepared for them to live in rent free.

One of the requirements of the housing was the completion of a safety plan for the children in which Adams was to list everyone who would be coming into the home, including relatives and friends. She refused to give any names, saying she didn't want to lose the children if an unauthorized person visited.

She eventually gave the names of four relatives who would be frequent visitors. That was when Sheehan asked whether Adams was pregnant. The judge said if Adams was pregnant, then the name of that baby's father was not on the list. Adams refused to answer. Later, through her attorney, she said the question was too personal.

*snip*

She complained that Hillsborough County and the state were not helping enough, even though, according to court documents, she was drawing $2,600 a month in government food and cash assistance. She also objected to caseworkers and child-protection investigators making frequent inquiries into her home.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/may/04/041226/mom-15-jailed-contempt-citation-back-court-today/news-breaking/

[Orrex]

1. Hmm...

:popcorn:

[MadMaddie]

2. If there ever was a case for someone getting their tubes tied

this is it. I would say the same for the Duggar wife with 18. Ridiculous!

[Warpy]

3. I'm just surprised Ma Duggar hasn't announced another blessed event

on the way. A little thing like a healing Caesarian wouldn't stop any of the other Quiverful fundies.

She must be slacking off. Or a doctor had a slip of the knife and did her a favor.

[MadMaddie]

5. I hate to say it but I think she is addicted to the attentiion

especially the TV attention. There is a syndrome for that I don't remember the name. The stress on the body cannot be good at her age.

[Jazzgirl]

11. Maddie, it's call Munchausen Syndrome.

Women crave attention through their children. Yeah....it's pretty crazy and too bad for the kids.

[REP]

13. It's Munchausen's by Proxy,and she doesn't display symptoms

MBP is where a parent makes a child sick for the attention of being the attentive, long-suffering caregiver to a sick child. She has whatever you call it when you don't feel like giving up all your dignity to some piss ant administrator who wants to sniff your panties because you're on public assistance. I have no doubt if this woman, who is very vocal about getting assistance, was pregnant, would be demanding prenatal care - and would be chided for not being meek enough about that, either.

Let's not go all Frist and diagnose her with very rare mental disorders just because she has more kids than we think she ought to and she's not as humble as we think she should be.

[xultar]

22. I think it may be the husband as well. I saw a commerical for their show

and something about him isn't right. She has issues too but something about him is creepy.

[REP]

6. I'm a charter member of the seekrit kid-hating childfree cabal, and I think this is too much

Not the governments place to decide for her. Do I agree with her choices? Fuck no! But I'd rather feed her kids than bail out a(nother) brokerage.

[Warpy]

8. I think the gummint has a compelling interest in making sure

she's not doing things like pimping her kids or cooking crank. Other than that, I agree with you.

[REP]

4. As much as I want to dislike this person, that's a bit much

Yes, the father of some of the children is in prison on drug charges, but she hasn't been charged with anything illegal (bad choices in partners isn't against the law yet). Receiving public assisstance shouldn't mean welcoming the panty police.

Yeah, I think she has too many kids. When we stop bailing out banks with billions, I'll crap my pants about feeding stupid people for far, far less.

[w8liftinglady]

7. I agree with you

When we are pro-choice-we have to defend choices we might not agree with.And a week in jail for THIS?...cmon

[Kceres]

9. +1. How in the world is jailing her constitutional?

[Dr.Phool]

19. It's called contempt of court.

If the judge asks you questions, and you refuse to answer them, bring your toothbrush.

[CBGLuthier]

12. Yes. Well put.

[MadMaddie]

14. Shouldn't there be responsibility by individuals that are on

government dollars?

[REP]

16. Such as...?

Do you mean their reproductive lives should be regulated by a governmental body, just because they receive welfare? Really?

Shall we start with the employees of Goldman Sachs, or does it just bother you when poor people fuck?

I don't think you'll find many who'll encourage families of this size, regardless where the money comes from, and you'll find fewer who want the government regulating family size for anyone.

[MadMaddie]

21. I am not talking about jail and I personally don't care who fucks

Education to the woman about birth control could be a start.

I don't have children but I pay taxes and I don't have a problem with my taxes going to helping families.

For clarification you are saying that she has no responsibility? No responsibility to take care of her existing children? No responsibility to manage her health to try and prevent pregnancies?

How do you break the cycle? Will she ever get off of welfare? Will she be able to get a job to sustain a life for her children?

I am not saying the government should regulate a women's ability to have children. I am asking about her responsibility.

[REP]

24. She wasn't on welfare until her partner was imprisoned

I have no idea if she's capable of landing a job that will pay enough to feed and clothe all her children, plus rent, plus daycare ...

The questions weren't about teaching her anything other than her place. We both know that.

I've been child-free longer than you've been alive. This isn't an issue of 'breeder entitlement,' though the articles are trying to frame it that way. This is about making an uppity woman kiss ass, and no one should think that's okay.

[Dappleganger]

18. Yes, but

how's a week in jail going to change any of that? IMO it was a waste of everyone's time to do so. She does need to answer questions which are asked, however, because they need to have a clear picture of just what they are dealing with as decisions are being made.

[MadMaddie]

23. I agree with you. A week in jail waste of money!

[pnwmom]

10. Even if this hadn't happened, her welfare benefits would have run out eventually.

(The husband in prison had been supporting her.) I wonder what her plans were for then.

[Dappleganger]

15. It's a fine line...

there are LOT of agencies and people who are trying to help this woman and her children. The judge is asking questions so that sound decisions will be made and a clear picture is known before those decisions are settled on. She has some pride which is probably what helps her to survive (and all she's got left), but if she loves these kids and wants them back she needs to be more responsive by just answering the questions.

My guess is that yes, she's pregnant again, wants everyone's help whenever she wants it but also wants to be left alone to do her thing. Problem is that she has an overwhelming number of children and she doesn't appear to be equipped in any way to care for them at this time. Now that DCF and the courts are in her life things will never be the same.

IMO that's a good thing, these children really don't have a chance right now w/her because of their living situation.

You can't help everybody but the least you can do is get the kids into a better environment for now. If she gets her act together then of course all of that can change her future as a mother.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Now that she's out and child free she'll have time to get pregnant

That is, if she isn't pregnant.

[Dappleganger]

20. She probably already is.

What a shame that the only way she feels in control is to have babies. Women like her need early-intervention and education in the worst way.

[REP]

25. Falling for the baited hook.

Look at how she's being treated, and not that she has more children than you (or I) think is a good number. The number of children doesn't make this right.