A family asks why a dad had custody of the girl he is accused of killing
While an investigation continues into the alleged child abuse death of 4-year-old Kristina Hepp, her mother, step-grandparents and others say they are left wondering why Kristina's father was awarded custody of the little girl.
They are asking for the Governor's Office to order an investigation into the events leading up to Kristina's death.
Kristina was found dead inside the Waccasassa mobile home where she had lived since February with her father, Matthew Roland and his girlfriend Chelci Folds.
Roland, an unemployed sheet metal worker, has been charged with aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter of a child in Kristina's death. Roland's criminal history includes a string of arrests in Gilchrist County on drug charges and on charges of domestic violence and burglary.
But Roland's only conviction as an adult was for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana. Adjudication was withheld in two cases, and charges were dropped in three other cases.
According to Arlene Huszar, family court manager for Florida's Eighth Judicial Circuit, even if Roland had been convicted of every charge filed against him, Florida law would not have prohibited him from having custody of his daughter.
Huszar: "A criminal record would not automatically preclude someone from being a guardian or a time-sharing parent. The Florida Legislature passed a law that took effect last fall replacing the term custody with time sharing. It's up to a judge to weigh that information. There is no black or white on 'yes, you can' and 'no, you can't' when it comes to these cases."
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Custody cases not clear cut
While an investigation continues into the alleged child abuse death of 4-year-old Kristina Hepp, her mother, step-grandparents and others say they are left wondering why Kristina's father was awarded custody of the little girl.
They are asking for the Governor's Office to order an investigation into the events leading up to Kristina's death.
Kristina was found dead inside the Waccasassa mobile home where she had lived since February with her father, Matthew Roland and his girlfriend Chelci Folds.
Roland, an unemployed sheet metal worker, has been charged with aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter of a child in Kristina's death. Roland's criminal history includes a string of arrests in Gilchrist County on drug charges and on charges of domestic violence and burglary.
But Roland's only conviction as an adult was for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana. Adjudication was withheld in two cases, and charges were dropped in three other cases.
According to Arlene Huszar, family court manager for Florida's Eighth Judicial Circuit, even if Roland had been convicted of every charge filed against him, Florida law would not have prohibited him from having custody of his daughter.
Huszar: "A criminal record would not automatically preclude someone from being a guardian or a time-sharing parent. The Florida Legislature passed a law that took effect last fall replacing the term custody with time sharing. It's up to a judge to weigh that information. There is no black or white on 'yes, you can' and 'no, you can't' when it comes to these cases."
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Custody cases not clear cut
It is absolutely mind blowing.
ReplyDeleteIf people need any more evidence that justice is blind, I don't know what it would be.
It's not right. Clearly it's not right.
ReplyDeleteShades of OJ.
ReplyDeleteI will never understand this - or accept it.
A criminal record won't automaticslly precule a person from being a guardian or a time-sharing parent? Really, Arlene Huszar?
ReplyDeleteWould you want Rolad as a guardian or time-sharing parent of your own child?
I think not.