How sad. This was on the news this evening, and it just breaks my heart.
http://News4Jax.com - News - Stepfat...ged With Abuse
Stepfather Of Boy In Custody Fight Charged With Abuse
POSTED: 6:05 pm EST November 2, 2005
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The stepfather of a 4-year-old at the center of a custody dispute has been arrested in Illinois, charged with domestic battery involving the boy.
Evan Scott Johnson spent the first three years of his life with an Atlantic Beach couple who were trying to adopt him. Late last year, a Duval County judge awarded custody to his biological mother, Amanda Hopkins, and her husband, Michael Hopkins.
In January, Evan was taken to live with the Hopkins family in Illinois.
According to Glenview, Ill., police, Michael Hopkins, 26, was arrested Monday after investigating a report of child abuse in the home. Authorities in Illinois told Channel 4 that Hopkins "caused physical harm" to Evan while he disciplined the boy.
After a hearing Tuesday, Hopkins was released on $10,000 bond and told he can't have any unsupervised visits with Evan or the couple's other child. He is due back in court Dec. 7.
Late last year, a Duval County judge ruled that since Gene and Dawn Scott never finalized adoption papers, the birth mother would get full custody.
Hopkins came to Jacksonville last winter with his wife to pick up Evan from the Scotts.
"I'm absolutely horrified that Evan has got into a situation where he's not able to be protected anymore," Dawn Scott said. "We did everything we could, using whatever little bit of power the court let us have as his guardians to try and protect him."
Evan's biological father, Steven White, told his attorney that he is "extremely upset and worried" about the alleged abuse his son has suffered.
The attorney, Garrett Barket, said they are weighing their options as how to proceed next, but will do whatever is necessary in Evan's best interest. He said the allegation of abuse will "reinvigorate our efforts to obtain a favorable result to the custody issue."
Channel 4 was told there could be an emergency hearing on the custody issue in Duval County court Thursday.