Lawmaker and wife ordered to return toddler to his parents

[Samurai_Writer]

A 20-month-old boy was returned to his mother's arms Monday for the first time since he became the focus of a custody battle between his parents and a state lawmaker.

A judge dismissed the case in which state Rep. Talmadge Heflin and his wife, Janice, sought custody of Fidel Odimara Jr. The decision cleared the way for the reunion in the southwest Houston office of attorney Mathew Nwogu, who represented the parents for free.

"I'm really happy," said Mariam Katamba as she held the toddler. "He's my everything."

Family District Judge Linda Motheral dismissed the case Monday morning after concluding that the Heflins did not have "standing," the status to make a claim for custody.

MORE

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2755243


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Glad to see justice was actually served in this case. That couple had no reason to be trying to get custody of their former maid's little boy. I'm actually amazed the judge was not swayed by the guy's political power.

[hatrack]

1. GOOD!!!

Can't think of anyone more deserving of a quick judicial kick in the ass than this mooingly self-righteous couple!

[AlCzervik]

11. And you know that kids would have been a campaign prop

total bastards.

[Dover]

2. Phew! I am so relieved that the judge did her duty,

what with what must have been heavy duty political pressure. I hope she doesn't have to pay for this down the road. Or perhaps the political pressure went the other way, and the Republican leadership saw the potential for a huge political storm in this class struggle. Plus...the Heflins were clearly lying about the employment status of the couple from Africa.

She did the right thing by law.....a novelty these days.

And the attorneys that represented the natural parents for FREE are SAINTS!!

Restores my faith.

[Swede]

3. I am shocked! He's a republican!

Wow,he must be on the fast track over there.

[poliguru]

4. As a mother and a human being

the Heflin's actions were despicable. Thank God the parents didn;t have to wait longer to get their son back.

What I can't figure out is, how did they get a court order getting the kid? If I see a kid I like, can I just file a court order and have him/her given to me? If it's as clear a law as the judge said, how did THAT happen?

Glad that justice was served to the "party of family values."

[beyurslf]

5. I want to see kidnapping charges brought against them

Thank god that boy is home with his parents now.

[Hawkeye-X]

6. I want to see Heflin and his wife thrown into jail

for kidnapping, intimidation, slavery, etc. etc. etc.

Let them serve time in jail and see how *they* like being slaves.

Hawkeye-X

[jayfish]

10. Exactly. Lock Them Up Today. -NT-

Jay

[Nambe]

13. Custodial Interferance a Class C Felony is more likely.

And would bar him from politics and a host of other freedoms, like his passport.

[Dover]

7. I think this is the bottom line.....and one that can NEVER be crossed

..."I just think that little black boys, that immigrants, that poor people, had a lot to be afraid of, had the court said the Heflins had (a valid claim)," said lawyer Jolanda Jones, who also represented the parents for no fee. "It is scary to think that you can take a kid from a parent because they are poor or from a country that you don't think they should be from and systematically kidnap the kid."

Jones said the Heflins "owe our clients an apology for disrupting their lives."

The Heflins, in their statement, said their sole motivation was love for the boy.

"All of our actions were out of love and concern for him," they said. "He has truly been a part of our family for the past 14 months. We have treated Fidel Jr. in the same loving manner in which we care for our own son and family."

[MissB]

8. Good!

That's the way it should be!

[yellowcanine]

9. Another hypocrisy milestone for the "family values" party

Apparently "family values" include stealing someone elses kid just because they could.

[Gothmog]

12. Every judge in Harris County is a repug

I am so glad that this judge did the right thing in this case. The Harris County family law courts can be very political and partisan at times.

I are really hoping that we can get a democrat elected to the bench in November here in Harris County. There are currently no democrats on the bench here in Harris county and no democrats on the bench at the Texas Supreme Court. Kathy Stone has a chance in November.

[kimchi]

14. Justice still lives in America, thank Goddess.

I'm so glad to see this. I can't imagine the precedence it would have set otherwise.