For those of you who know, or even care, here's an update to my situation with the ex-husband.
My ex-husband was released from jail on bond back in October. The day he found out I was remarrying, he shot himself in the head. He lived, but he has permanent medical repurcussions. He ended up going back to jail in February for breaking his pre-trial release.
He reached a plea bargain in March. He gets sentenced on May 9. The state attorney has requested that I attend the hearing and make a recommendation to the Judge. However, the maximum sentence he'll receive is 4 years prison. He'll also have probation for a combined total of 15 years, so if he gets 4 years prison, he'll have 11 years sexual offender probation, etc. He'll have to register as a sex offender. He'll not be allowed to have contact with anybody under the age of 18 unless supervised.
I'm very nervous about the sentencing hearing. Four years isn't enough if you ask me. However, I was very concerned about my daughter having to testify. The plea was reached the day of jury selection. My daughter was subpoenaed and would have had to take the stand.
I'm seeking to terminate his parental rights to our youngest. I'm not sure if I'll be able to ask for that at the sentencing hearing. I doubt it. I'll probably have to hire an attorney to do that, or file pro se and hope I don't screw it up.
My oldest daughter met her biological father for the first time ever about 6 weeks ago. She was so nervous. He gave her his phone number and address. He's signed adoption papers for my husband to adopt her, yet he's pursuing visitation? Doesn't make sense. I haven't filed the papers with the courts yet. I figured I'd wait until my ex-husband's hearing and file everything together if need be. She wanted to call her bio dad, and I've given her the opportunity but she hasn't followed through. I think she's nervous. He calls me from time to time to find out if the papers have been filed, but he never asks about her, or even to speak to her. So I really don't know what he wants from us.
Anyway, is Catherine and Richard and Ronbec still around?? If so, give me a holler and let me know what you think about the termination of parental rights. Do you think I should file pro se (can't really afford an attorney) or do you think it's wiser to use an attorney???