Visitation Denied for Hundreds of Days
In 1993 I was awarded sole custody of Sterling, during which time Leo committed extensive violence against me. In 1995 I was awarded sole custody of Ian. In 1997, claiming I had Munchausen by Proxy, Leo orchestrated an emergency hearing at which Judge Richardson temporarily transferred the children to Leo. (The Munchausen claim was, of course, later proven false.) On July 21, 2000, Judge Campbell increased the children's time with me, but those orders were never signed. On June 10, 2005, Leo presented revised orders for signature that gave himself sole custody.
This affidavit summarizes information regarding visitation and counseling between the time Judge Campbell heard the case in 2000 and when he signed those now-revised orders in 2005--after a 5-year delay. In 2000 he had extended Judge Richardson's temporary orders and provided me standard visitation, Wednesday overnights, and 45 days in summer. Here's what happened:
In 2000 Leo mostly complied with Judge Campbell's orders.
In 2001 Leo began withholding the children on some weekends.
In 2002 Leo withheld the children on some weekends and assaulted me at their school during a Wednesday visitation. He then directed the school to not allow Wednesday visitations.
In 2003 Leo also withdrew visits during holidays and, learning I could no longer go into court, threatened to end all access to the children, threatening to move them to Mexico.
In 2004 Leo provided the children for only 5 overnights (early November, Easter, and Mother's Day). Otherwise, I saw the children only 2 hours a month at their school (30 minutes during lunch every Wednesday). Leo also denied Summer visitation.
In 2005 Before the orders were signed, Leo provided Sterling and Ian for only 3 hours on Easter Day at their sister Kristen's home. I saw Ian (without Sterling) 2 hours a month at his school and for 1 overnight in April (Sat. 9:45 p.m.-Sun. 6:00 p.m.). Beginning in May, Ian began calling me to secretly visit him at the Dragon's Lair, a comicbook and gaming shop. There I learned Leo had been leaving the boys unchaperoned every Friday from 7:00 p.m. until midnight for the past 2 years. The boys, now 10 and 12, kept the visits with me secret from their dad. After the orders, Leo assaulted me when I exercised a scheduled visitation.
In 1997 Judge Richardson ordered Leo to provide counseling for Sterling. Leo refused.
In 1997 Leo was found in contempt and again ordered to provide counseling. Leo refused.
In 2000 Judge Campbell ordered Leo to provide counseling for both Sterling and Ian. Leo refused.
In 2002 Ian revealed that he had tried to kill himself. Upon CPS request, Leo took the boys to Dr. Carlos Laredo. Against the doctor's advice, Leo removed them from counseling after only 3 visits.
In 2005 Kim Bird, an
AISD special
counselor, reported in May that Ian was moderately depressed and
recommended counseling for problems outside of school--she provided the
information to both Leo and me. Leo
ignored Ms. Bird's report and removed the counseling portion of Judge
Campbell's orders of 2000 from the version he had signed in 2005.
Note: In Fall 2005 Ian again
tried to kill himself; his school is responding to help
him.
I have been unable to
go into court for
several years due to PTSD, largely the result of excessive legal
involvements. Leo Loza has taken advantage of this disability, taunting
that I can no longer challenge him in court and that he will do
everything in his power to keep the children from me.
I just want the opportunity to be a mom to
my children.
Respectfully, Jan Barstow