OH Couple Faces Charges for 'Returning' 9-Year-Old Son to Child Services
An Ohio couple may face charges after "returning" their adopted 9-year-old son to Butler County Children Services after a lifetime of raising him. Cleveland and Lisa Cox are wanted on charges of nonsupport of dependents and for "recklessly" abandoning their son, which is a first-degree misdemeanor.
"My position is children in general, not speaking to this specific case, they do not have a return to sender label on their forehead," Prosecutor Mike Gmoser told the Journal News. "They are their children for always and they have that duty to support and they cannot abandon without consequences. When you are the parent and you recklessly abandon a child or children, there are criminal consequences."
The boy, who has not been named by the press, is now being properly cared for after being abandoned; his court-appointed guardian said that he is "very hurt and confused." Adolfo Olivas added that boy needs help with his aggressive behavior.
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"The parents were willing to get help but the child wasn't. That just is nonsense to me," Olivas said. "A parent is a parent and a 9-year-old is a 9-year-old. If your 9-year-old needs help, you get him help. It is not a question of a 9-year-old wanting it or not."
Unfortunately, the 9-year-old is not the only child affected. There are reportedly others in the Cox household who are likely to suffer from the loss of the child.
"What does this do to these other kids?" Olivas asked. "You have these siblings and one goes away and doesn't ever come back because of some behavior issues. Anytime you separate siblings in the blink of an eye like that, it's got to have some bad effect on them."
The Coxes will be in court on Nov. 27 to determine what will happen to their son, but no criminal hearing has been set and they are not speaking to the press.
"The parents have sought to have their parental rights terminated. I'm not sure that terminating parental obligations and rights I the right thing to do here," Olivas said.
