Expert: Robin Sexton - 6/20/2008

Question
The deal is my step father took my three year old sister and flew her out of state to Texas. (we live in Washington), and has decided to divorce my mom. My mom had no idea that he was going to do this, and they had not filed for the divorce yet. My mom went to the house to find all of my baby sisters clothes gone, and they were no where to be found. When Mon finally got a hold of my step-dad and found out he took off to Texas with my sister it scared all of us a lot. I called my step father and begged for him to bring my sister back and he denied my request unless my mom flew to Texas and signed whatever forms he wanted sign on parental-rights. So, i called him a second time and told him "if you don't bring my sister back i will snap you like  a twig". Fifteen minutes later after my mom got after me about the phone call I called my step-father back and apologized. A week later yesterday he came home finally with my sister, and my mom has my sister. (he thought he flew back in undiscovered, but my mom found out and met them at the airport, and took back my sister from him). Last night around midnight i was awakened from a cop saying that My step-father called and said I threatened him and wants to press charges against me...i think this is his ridiculous way of trying to push my mom around because of he has been documented with bipolar syndrome. I do not know if this charge is real and if i need to hire a lawyer?  

Answer
Nikole,

Glad you got your sister back that must have been a very difficult time for you and your mother.  If that was all you said you are a better person then me.  First question i have is can you snap him like a twig ?  if not i wouldn't worry about it to much.  Frankly i would probably tell the cop exactly what happened. However if you don't want to take that chance i would let your step father try and prove it, sounds like BS to me.  You don't have to tell the officer anything.  Wait and see what happens.  I think your step father should be more worried about the attempt at coercion he tried on your mother.  Probably wouldn't get a criminal charge but hopefully your mother will continue with divorce proceeding and I am sure the judge will be impressed.


Good Luck


Robin