
Single Mother Handcuffed, Jailed for Letting 14-Year-Old Babysit During COVID
Recently on Dr. Phil and Reason Magazine
When COVID-19 shut down her children's daycare in May of 2020, and Melissa Henderson had to go to work, she asked her 14-year-old daughter, Linley, to babysit the four younger siblings. Linley was engaged in remote learning when her youngest brother, four-year-old Thaddeus, spied his friend outside and went over to play with him. It was about 10 or 15 minutes before Linley realized he was missing. She guessed that he must be at his friend's house, and went to fetch him.
In the meantime, the friend's mom had called the police.
Now Henderson, a single mom in Blairsville, Georgia, is facing criminal reckless conduct charges for letting her 14-year-old babysit. The charges carry a maximum penalty of one year in prison and fine of $1,000. The arresting officer, Deputy Sheriff Marc Pilote, wrote in his report that anything terrible could have happened to Thaddeus, including being kidnapped, run over, or "bitten by a venomous snake." (When Henderson protested that the kid was only gone a few minutes, Pilote responded that a few minutes was all the time a venomous snake needed.)
HelP ParentsUSA defend Melissa
with a GoFundMe Donation
When ParentsUSA participates legal counsel for a parent or parents or supports a parent's position in an appeal by preparing and filing an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief, ParentsUSA does so without charge (pro bono). Donate here by using the DONATE button or, because ParentsUSA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, you also can donate through GoFundMe Charity which donations are made directly to PayPal Giving Fund (which is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization). After the deduction of payment processing fees, PayPal Giving Fund delivers the funds they receive to ParentsUSA!
Big Win for Parental Rights at Idaho Supreme Court
he Evans family just secured a major win for parental rights in Idaho, with the state Supreme Court ruling that a law purporting to require grandparent visitation is unconstitutional. In this interview on Conversations That Matter with The New American magazine Senior Editor Alex Newman, the parents and the attorney who filed an amicus brief in their […]
Read MoreParentsUSA Hails Idaho Supreme Court Decision To Strike Down Statute Infringing On Parents’ Rights
The Idaho Supreme Court struck down as “facially unconstitutional” the statute allowing the award of grandparent visitation over the objections of fit parents. Parents, and no one else, have the constitutional right to decide with whom their children spend time and under what circumstances.” — David DeLugas, Executive Director, ParentsUSA ATLANTA, GEORGIA, USA, September 26, […]
Read MoreWhere Do You Stand as a Parent in Regards to Your Children’s Education?
As a parent, one of the principal areas of concern for you is the education of your children. You, of course want to ensure the best education possible for your children. In this country, in which the lines of parental rights and the state’s can get a little blurry at times, it is crucial to […]
Read MoreChild Involuntarily Committed to Mental Health Center Without Consent by Her Parents or An Opportunity to Object! A Violation of Parents’ Rights? Maybe Not!
Six-year-old Nadia King was sent to a mental hospital without her mother’s consent and held for 48 hours after she allegedly threw tantrums at her kindergarten. According to the child’s mental heath counselor, she was “out of control and throwing a tantrum.” The Sheriff reported the girl had been “destroying school property, attacking staff and […]
Read MoreA parent’s worst nightmare
Your child, who receives treatment for a condition diagnosed by doctors at Tufts University Medical Center, is transported to Boston Children’s Hospital to receive medical treatment. Instead of receiving the medical treatment your daughter needs, she is denied that medical care and YOU are accused of medical child abuse only because you are providing the […]
Read MoreIntroducing Who We Are & Our Mission on the Growth Exponential Podcast
Recently, the Founder and Executive Director of ParentsUSATM, David DeLugas, was a guest on the Growth Exponential Podcast. It isn’t remarkable that he was interviewed as reporters and pundits seek out the views of ParentsUSATM. What is worthy of your listening to this podcast is the discussion that covers the missions of ParentsUSATM, its goals […]
Read MoreChild Taken from Mother by State Authorities Without Court Order
Police took Hannah’s 11-year old daughter from her without a court order and turned the child over to her father who had relinquished custody in 2012 and even had a court order to stay away from the mother and the child. The mother’s attorney noted the strange circumstances of this case in which the state […]
Read MoreParental Rights Are Threatened Again in Custody Case
Too many times, the government oversteps its authority, infringing upon the rights of parents and their children and, thereby, interfering with the parent-child relationship. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed an amicus brief in the Texas Supreme Court in support of parental rights, fighting against the government’s excessive intervention in the relationships between parents and […]
Read MoreShaming Children for School Lunch Debt is a National Problem
Should a child whose parents struggle to make ends meet be shamed for not being able to afford school breakfasts and lunches, running up debt at school that goes unpaid? In schools across the USA, children and parents are undergoing scrutiny and shame for their school meals’ debt and it’s a national problem that needs […]
Read MoreHelping Children? Too Often Foster Children Suffer When the State Tries, But Fails
Eight-year old Dontay Davis suffered from emotional and behavioral problems after the state removed his siblings and him from his parents in 2005 and placed his siblings and him in foster homes, presumably for their benefit. In his first foster home, Dontay often acted violently against his younger brothers, behavior which caused him to be […]
Read More