Stemom Kills Her Kids? Yup, you still have to see her.

In yet another brilliant move by the family courts, children are being sent to live with a father who is married to a woman who killed her own 4 and 8 year old daughters. That's right, it's okay to kill your children because you can just marry a man who has his own children. These kids are teenagers, and yet not one word about how they feel in this tragedy. No thoughts on what it will be like being disciplined by a woman psycho enough to extrerminate her family.
 I'm sorry kids, we have failed you. Please stay safe. Keep a phone with you at all times. If you are ever scared, call 911, from a land line hang up and don't pick it up when they call back, this way they have to respond. Know that school officials and hospital workers are mandated reporters. If you so much as get scary feeling with that woman, get out and get help.

Mom Loses Custody Battle with Ex, Who Is Married to a Child Killer

Posted Aug 1, 2011 9:14 AM CDT
By Debra Cassens Weiss

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An Oregon woman is appealing a child custody decision that allows a child killer to help raise her two sons.

Trisha Conlon of Silverton, Ore., fought to keep the boys out of her ex-husband’s home after a private investigator confirmed he was living with Kristine Cushing on Vashon Island near Seattle, the Associated Press reports.

Kristine Cushing was married twice to John Cushing Jr., both before and after he married Trisha Conlon. During Kristine and John’s first marriage, she killed their two daughters, ages 4 and 8, and blamed her actions on temporary insanity caused by Prozac, the story says. She was hospitalized nearly four years in a mental institution and underwent nearly a decade of psychiatric monitoring before receiving an unconditional release in 2005, when she remarried John Cushing.
A parenting plan gives Conlon custody of her 14-year-old son during the school year, while John Cushing has custody of their 13-year-old boy during that time, the AP story says. The teens split holidays and vacations between the two parents.
Conlon learned in 2007 that her one-time husband was living with Kristine, but he said they were getting divorced and she was no longer living there. Conlon's suspicions that John and Kristine had reconciled were confirmed when she hired a private investigator early this year.
Conlon then sought a permanent modification of the parenting plan with John Cushing, but Commissioner Leonid Ponomarchuk of King County, Wash., refused the change, the story says. Ponomarchuk reasoned that the boys had been spending time with Kristine Cushing since 2008, although Conlon wasn’t aware of it, and there had been no problems.

Can You Trust the Police to Help You?

The issue regarding whether to trust law enforcement is a difficult one for me personally. I have family members who are police officers and I trust them and the way they conduct themselves at work. However, I have also had encounters in which police have been less than helpful and times they have been down right cruel. It is difficult as a child stuck in a bitter custody fight to figure out whether the police are friends or foes.

First off the police are PISSED that they have been called into your situation. Likely they have been called because you are refusing to go along with the visitation schedule. In their minds, you are the problem and if you would just get with the program, they can get back to doing "real police work" But if they think that your the asshole, then embrace your role. Be the asshole. The longer you dig in your heels and refuse to go, the more likely they will give up.

However, it is important that you treat the cops with respect, even when you are refusing to go along with what they want from you. Don't give them an excuse to escalate the situation. Because they are looking for any excuse to paint you as the bad guy, and them as the conquering hero. They will lie to you, attempt to intimidate you, and they may even arrest you and tell you they won't let you go until you agree togo with the non custodial parent. Let them blow all the hot air they want, let them get mad. Be polite but firm. Tell them that you are not going.

Realize that the more you refuse to do what the police officer says, the more angry and threatening they may get. For this reason, all encounters with the police should be videotaped. Something that the police are trying to prevent by making it illegal to videotape them at all in certain states. This is a worrisome issue. However, it is well worth the possibility of facing an illegal wiretaping charge then do be stuck defenseless when an encounter with the police goes bad.
Observe:





So here is an officer threatening, intimidating and assaulting a teenager; just because he can. Witout tis videotape, no one would have ever believed him. This tape reinforces several key points. One, don't disrespect the officer. Apparently they really hate being called "Dude". Two, they can and will do what they want with you. Three, without videoape evidence, you will be in no position to defend yourself against a rouge police officer such as this.

When you decide you ave had enough of the family courts and current custody situation, things will likely escalate. If you ever need help because your non-custodial parent is threatening you or even abusing you: imagine that it will be Officer Rivieri that will show up and not Officer Friendly. If your father is a jerk, an encounter with an officer like this will only make him more likely to continue his behavior because he realizes that the police won't do anything to him. That is yet another reason why you have to fight for yourself. When you were a kid your parents taught you all about right and wrong, the good guys and the bad guys, black and white. The truth is,  it is all a grey area and life isn't fair. Take care of yourself and don't expect anyone to do it for you. You can ask the police for help, but don't expect it.

Can I Get Thrown in Jail for Refusing Visitation? Yes you Can.

Teenager incarcerated for refusing to visit his father

Published: Saturday, November 21, 2009

 

By Jameson Cook, Macomb Daily Staff Writer

Click to enlarge

Macomb Daily photo by David Dalton Dawn Platevoet and her son, Jacob Mastrogiovanni, leave the Macomb County Juvenile Justice Center in Mount Clemens on Friday.

A 14-year-old boy was thrown into the county youth home overnight and handcuffed for about four hours after refusing to follow a judge's order to visit his father, as part of an ongoing custody case.

The boy, Jacob Mastrogiovanni of Warren, was ordered Thursday to spend three days in the youth home by family court Judge John Foster, who lifted the sentenced Friday following protests by his mother and a night of incarceration for her son.

The uncommon occurrence of a contempt of

court sentence for a child in a child custody dispute angered his mother, Dawn Platevoet, and several of her relatives, including the boy's grandmother. They picketed in front of the county courthouse in downtown Mount Clemens on Thursday and Friday, garnering media attention.

"A judge shouldn't throw an all-A student in jail for refusing to visit his father," Platevoet said. "There are other ways to handle the situation, and apparently the judge agreed because he let him out."

Jacob was slated to remain in the Juvenile Justice Center until 7 p.m. Sunday but was released by Foster about 12:30 p.m. Friday. Foster had Jacob brought from the youth home in handcuffs about 8:30 a.m. Friday to appear in front of him in Macomb County Circuit Court later that morning. Jacob waited in a holding cell.

Moments after he was released Friday, Jacob said Foster didn't specify why he freed him.

"He said that I don't decide whether I see my dad or not," Jacob said. "It was kind of like a warning, this time, I guess."

Foster's secretary said the judge did not want to comment.

Jacob and Platevoet wouldn't delve into many details of why he won't visit his father, Victor Mastrogiovanni of Chesterfield Township. She said Jacob began resisting in July following an unspecified incident.

They said when Jacob has visited Mastrogiovanni recently that he is forced to stay in his room without any contact.

On Foster's order, the three have been attending weekly counseling sessions since early September. But they and the therapist have been unable to resolve the disagreement.

Platevoet and Mastrogiovanni never married and have had some disputes for years regarding custody and support issues, they said.

Mastrogiovanni, who has been married for two years and has a 15-month-old child, said he did not want to comment specifically about the dispute.

"I love my kid very much and want what's best for him," he said.

Platevoet said she would like her son to visit his dad but can't force him.

"What am I supposed to do? Grab him by the back of the head and put him in the car?" she said. "He's a teenager and wants to do teenager things."

She said Jacob "listens to me" about other things but not about the visits.

Platevoet's attorney, James Simasko, said he sympathizes with his client but didn't advise her to contact the media.

"The media is not the proper place for the parties to air their differences," he said.

Platevoet defended her public protest, saying she didn't want to air grievances but simply wanted her son released.

"The only reason I went to the media was to get him out of jail for what the judge did," she said. "He's my kid. I'm going to say something about it."

She said the county Friend of the Court also recommended the judge put him in jail.

"The Friend of the Court and judge are not looking out for the best interest of the child," Platevoet said. "They put him in jail with criminals."

FOC Director Lynn Davidson said she could not comment on the case. She said a child's wishes is one of 13 "best interests of the child" factors a judge considers in making custody decisions. Simasko said judges typically accept more input from a child as he or she grows older and matures.

Youth home Director Chuck Siedelman said his facility has handled minors for contempt of court in the past, but said he and his staff don't review the details.

"It's not our responsibility to know what took place; we hold them and house them," he said.

In the juvenile center off Dunham Road near Rose on the outskirts of Mount Clemens, Jacob was kept alone in a cell and slept on a mat, he said.

He had no complaints other than the handcuffs.

"They hurt," he said, showing lumps on his wrists from the metal tightened around them.

"The people were nice, but it's a bad place," he said.

His mother said Jacob, a ninth-grader at East Detroit High School, "is a good kid" who is on the honor roll and was voted "class leader" and scored No. 1 on a recent grade-wide exam. He plays baseball, wrestles and participates in other school activities.

His dad has coached him in baseball for several years.

Jacob said despite disliking his stay in the youth home, he vowed he will not comply with the visitation order.

"As terrible as a place as that is, I'd rather be there than" visit his father, he said.

The judge set a hearing on the matter for Monday morning.


In case you were wondering if you can be sent to jail for refusing to see your non-custodial parent, the answer is yes. A judge can do what he wants with you when you are involved in family court until you turn 18 years old.. He or she can make your life a living hell, and it is important to understand this going into a custody fight. You have the right to fight back, but there will be consequences.
In this case this kid had a decent relationship with his father early in his childhood as his dad coached him in baseball. But at some point this kid decided, "I'm done with this visitation bullshit" and then his great dad turned into a dick. This kid had gone over there and spent the entirety of the visit in his room. He didn't like it, he didn't want to go any more. But did his dad listen, NO. Did his dad care, NO. And now the relationship has been damaged to such a degree, that it will never be repaired.
The question becomes, what is this kid supposed to do. Should he get in a physical altercation with his father? Should he destroy the property at his father's house? Should he act violently? By giving this kid a record and time in jail, hasn't the judge forced this child to fight back in a way that is ultimately more damaging and more dangerous for all involved.
I'm curious as to what happened to this kid. If anyone knows please let me know, and as always, your own stories are important to me. So send them in.

What Do I Need to Have for Fighting Visitation?

First off, fighting visitation can be a long war so be prepared. However, like the old proverb states: You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink. Your custody order can state whatever it wants, it is your decision whether you plan to follow it or not. So what do you need to fight visitation.
1. You need Nerves of Steel
This is going to be a lengthy process. Your going to piss off both of your parents. Everyone will be mad at you and you may get in trouble. Take a deep breath.  Accept that this will happen. Sometimes you just have to be an asshole. Embrace your role.
2. You Need a Safe Place to Keep Things
Your best friend will be very useful in this regard. See if you can keep private stuff at their house. If your school keeps track of whose lockers belong to which students, see if you can convince them to switch lockers with you. I say this because your parents can request to search your locker at anytime, and they can confiscate any of your things. But if no one knows which locker is truly yours, then you can use it to store important things. This is especially useful if you get picked up from school by your non-custodial parent.
3. You need Some Money.
No you should not be carrying cash with you. But if you can convince your family members to support you, see if they will give you a prepaid VISA card for around 200 bucks. They can pick it up at the grocery store, so it can never be traced back to them. A card is very easy to under the lining of your shoe when your stuck at visitation, and most Nazi non-custodial parents ( NCP) won't look there.
4. You need an Untraceable cell phone
Now you need to keep your old phone, and your NCP should see you use your regular phone. If you don't, they will get suspicious. This phone needs to be used in case of Emergency. Some NCP's will take your regular cell phone upon arrival to their house, but they won't find your hidden one. But you should never be without access to a phone, especially with a parent who drinks or is violent.
If you have the things here, you have already gotten yourself prepared to fight for yourself. Don't be a victim to the court system, or to your parents. You can be miserable and wait to cut off your parent until your 18 or you can do it now. Don't except the bullshit they are feeding you, get prepared to fight back.