Submitted by Rev. XXXXXX XXXXXXX

COPY OF APPEAL

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to appeal a courts decision for alleged child neglect.

On July 1st 2009, my wife and I had an argument, and as I attempted to leave, my wife grabbed me, I pushed her off me, and left the premises. The entire time my child was sleeping peacefully in her bed.

DYFS was called, Later DYFS showed up, and separated my wife and I on my return. I complied and had no worry as this was obviously blown out of proportion, and should be resolved pretty quick.

DURING THIS TIME I was completely cooperative with DYFS as was my wife. They were just about to leave feeling that my child was safe because of our cooperation.
At this point our child woke up and asked for her morning milk & Ovaltine, which my wife got for her.

One of these workers took my wife aside and started telling her I did not love her, I am no good for her, and other horrible things which my wife did not understand.

She had NO CHOICE but to address these issues with me right then and there as she felt I was going to leave her and it panicked her a bit as we have never been apart for more than a few hours.

DYFS put these lies into her head without ANY reason, much less any training in marriage or domestic counseling whatsoever.

They had NO RIGHT to say the things they did to her.

AT NO TIME DID I SAY I WOULD LEAVE HER OR MY CHILD.

NEEDLESS to say this put my wife in a state of panic and because they would not let her outside, she did call out to me begging me not to leave her. Then DYFS said they are going to take our child. My wife panicked begging and pleading with DYFS which they seemed to enjoy quite frankly.

Then the DYFS workers decided to allow my wife to leave the home with our child for the day as a “cool down” period. We both agreed, I thought “Anything to get these people out of here and stop causing a scene,” but because this was 5:30am, it took a few calls to get someone to agree to come down and pick them up.

After allowing only 20 minutes for someone to agree to come, get dressed, get in their car, and find their way to our home, DYFS then changed their mind AGAIN and said,” That’s it, we’re taking her.”

This totally blew my mind!

My child has never been away from us. We’ve never even had a babysitter, and my wife is a stay at home mom.

AT NO TIME WAS OUR CHILD EVER IN DANGER

DYFS LIED to us. DYFS lied in court, telling the courts we were intoxicated, which we were not. If we were so drunk, why would they be prepared to leave, as stated in court, leaving the child with us? Then changing their mind threatening to take the child, Then changing their mind again allowing her to leave with the child if she was so drunk?

They told the courts we were hostile, which was also a lie, as we were compliant until they changed their minds a 3rd time about taking our child and put us both into a frenzied panic.

They even lied about a statement given by a friend of mine who was staying with us at the time. They interviewed him, and the DYFS worker asked if he ever saw us drunk before. He stated he has in fact seen us DRINK before. DYFS lied in court by saying he stated he saw us DRUNK before. Big difference. We would never get drunk, much less in front of or around our children. This was another lie. I can have a statement by him to this effect.


DYFS stated in testimony that we have had police called out before because of our drinking. This is another lie, and I have statements by a Gloucester city worker, stating that police were called out because of stray cats in our yard, not drinking. Yet ANOTHER lie. I have a statement by her to this effect.

Neither my wife nor myself were even allowed to defend ourselves or even speak in our own behalf of these allegations, and now we’re found guilt of child neglect even before our trial. Even my P.D. was allowed only 5 mins with me before we began. I fired her.

I feel there is something VERY, VERY wrong here. I understand DYFS gets good money for stealing children and placing them in homes but this was far from necessary.
DYFS has been sued multiple times for lying under oath, changing stories, and neglect.

DYFS caused us to panic, as nobody has ever taken a child from me before.

I have never been accused by DYFS or any other family services of anything EVER.
I have raised my 20 yr old son my own since he was 13, who now works for the NFL, with no problems and he’s an awesome boy. My daughter is also a wonderful child who is well versed in English, Math, and even the computer thanks to the EXCELLENT parenting of my wife and my self. We even had our children assist us with a vegetable garden by stating a family that grows together stays together.

My stepson (My wife’s son) is a wonderful boy, and though his father makes 3 times more money than I do, I am paying child support to the father for his kid as my wife is at home with our daughter.

My wife is a great mother, who cooks home meals 6 days a week for our kids instead of eating instant foods out of boxes and packets. I work very hard to allow my wife to stay home with our children to teach them better. She shows them how to cook, clean, and do for themselves.

She is constantly enrolled in her son’s school programs to assist in field day, school library, etc. These field days are now also in jeopardy because of this decision.

We take them on educational trips, my 3 yr old watches only wholesome TV (Barney Sesame Street, etc)

My wife and I both were both tested on the 6th of July, the 1st time tested positive for marijuana, and I stated we had in fact took a couple puffs off one marijuana cigarette two weeks before this incident.

On July 23rd 2009 I tested negative proving my prior statement.

I am now told that it will be three months before my child is returned because of this “dirty urine” on the 6th of July.

This is NOT the reason we were even in court.

I may not be perfect, but I am HARDLY a child abuser.

None of our children have ever been hit anywhere but a slight smack on the hand if the baby touches something she is not allowed to, and a smack on the butt. All other punishment consists of being sent to their room, or privileges being taken away.
As stated by my stepson.

I APPEAL this decision, as my children were NEVER in ANY kind of danger.

I am a Minister, a good Father, and even perform many benefits for children who are suffering, which is now also in jeopardy because of this decision.

Finally since my child has been in DYFS custody, I have only seen her one hour per week, and have found cuts, and bruises on her body, her hair was cut without permission, and I am VERY worried about her welfare.

EVERYONE argues, but I do not feel we were guilty of anything except being angry with each other at the time.

I also feel we were not given a fair hearing in this matter.

I host a radio talk show that is there for people to call in and allow me to give them insight on their daily lives. I help people for a living, not hurt them.

My wife and I have been physically ill due to the loss of our children with no warnings no chance to redeem ourselves, or even a chance to speak on our own behalf.

AT NO TIME WAS OUR CHILD IN ANY DANGER

AT NO TIME WERE WE UNCOOPERATIVE UNTIL DYFS CHANGED THEIR MIND THE 3RD TIME AFTER DANGLING OUR CHILD IN FRONT OF US LIKE A CARROT OVER AND OVER.

THEREFORE I have no other recourse than to APPEAL this decision.

Our Congressman Rob Andrews has met us on several occasions, and said we have a beautiful family.

I will fight this decision, with everything I have, even if it means taking this to a higher court. I am currently in contact with Children’s rights Inc. who is attempting to assist me in this matter. I implore you to appeal this decision and return our child to us before further damage is done, and more time and money is wasted frivolously.

Thank you for your time, and I am very sorry for taking up the courts time and money in this matter.

Rev. XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX