OH-3 YO Haylee Donathan missing; #3 FOUND

[Angel Who Cares]

Haylee's mom admits role in escape
September 22, 2009
<snipped>
Candace Watson admitted Monday her role in helping a sex offender flee a halfway house.

Watson, 25, who has no listed address but previously lived in Crestline, pleaded guilty to complicity to escape. She could receive up to five years in prison for the third-degree felony at her Oct. 19 sentencing.

Richland County Common Pleas Judge James DeWeese ordered a pre-sentence investigation. Assistant Prosecutor Ben Elder said his office would not make a sentencing recommendation.

Watson said her daughter really loves James Donathan, Haylee's father, who also has been charged with complicity to escape. He is scheduled to be in court today. Police say Donathan procured a phone for Potter after he left the VOA and acted as a lookout for the vehicle that was to help him escape.

"I just wish that they would get this over with," Mary Watson said. "(Haylee's parents are) going to get married eventually."

Haylee's custody also is an issue. Several family members have filed petitions to raise the girl. Juvenile Court Judge Ron Spon is expected to make a ruling in the coming weeks.

Video: Candace Changes Plea To Guilty 1:50
http://gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/m...ect=1269689762

Article:
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/...909220320/1002
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Woman Pleads Guilty To Helping Boyfriend Escape
9/22/2009 12:34:25 PM
<snipped>
Candace Watson, 25, entered the plea Monday in Richland County Common Pleas Court. She faces up to five years in prison.

Watson will be sentenced on Oct. 19 for the third degree felony in Richland County Common Pleas Court.

Video:
http://www.northcentralohio.com/news...sp?story=37829

Article:
http://www.northcentralohio.com/news...sp?Story=37829

[Boyz_Mum]

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/...909220320/1002

Thanks for the link, Angel Who Cares.

The portion of the article where MW comments on the state of the relationship between Haylee's mom and dad, is rather odd, IMO. I pray all the people involved in this case can get the help they need so Haylee can be safe.

[mysticrose]

Haylee's dad sentenced in felon's escape

September 23, 2009

MANSFIELD -- Haylee Donathan's father could be out of prison in nine months.


James Donathan, 24, whose last known address was 290 N. Main St., was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison for complicity to escape. Richland County Common Pleas Judge James DeWeese told Donathan he could apply for early release if he stayed out of trouble.

Donathan pleaded guilty Monday for his role in helping sex offender Robbi Potter flee the local Volunteers of America halfway house. He procured a phone for Potter and acted as a lookout for the vehicle that was to help Potter escape.

Potter's flight led to a month-long, nationwide manhunt for him, Candace Watson and Watson's 4-year-old daughter, Haylee

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/...WS01/909230321

[Angel Who Cares]

Judge clears grandma to seek custody
September 25, 2009
<snipped>
Haylee Donathan’s custody case will go forward next week.

Richland County Juvenile Court Judge Ron Spon issued several rulings Thursday, clearing the way for a hearing starting Wednesday that will determine who gets custody of Haylee.

In Thursday’s hearing, Spon ruled the 4-year-old’s grandmother, Mary Watson, will not have a say in whether Haylee is dependent. Normally, a grandparent would not have standing to participate in dependency hearings, but Watson contested the issue.

Spon also ruled that while Mary Watson still can seek custody of the girl, she will have to pay for her own attorney.

“You’re still going to be in the case to assert your desire to be legal custodian,” Spon said.

Spon blocked off three days for the custody hearing. He also terminated the appointments of attorneys Heather Cockley and Lore Whitney, who had been representing Mary Watson and paternal grandmother Connie Donathan, respectively.

“It’s not in the public’s best economic interest,” Spon said. “The law doesn’t require that I give all of you attorneys at public expense.”

Two couples also are interested in custody. Steve and Susan Janoski live in Virginia. Susan is Mary Watson’s stepsister. Ken and Loretta Means, who live in Mansfield, are Mary Watson’s cousins.

“This complicated case is further complicated because other people have stepped forward,” Spon said.

Mary Watson said the situation is out of her control.

Article:
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/...o-seek-custody

[Boyz_Mum]

Did Mary Watson decide this is out of her control because she can't afford a lawyer to fight further or did she resign herself to believe Haylee could be "better off" with someone else? (Not that any of you can answer the question, it's just the first thing that came to mind when I read the article.)

I'm glad the judge decided to let custody seekers pay their own legal fees, most of our counties, accross the country are overburdened and this decision IMO is logical. IMO, it also shows that the county isn't just sending Haylee off with grandma because it's the path of least resistance, they actually have to think about what's best for Haylee. I wish that every child in precarious situations received this amount of consideration.

When custody is determined, I do hope that all people being considered are looked at thoroughly. Haylee's future depends on the decision.

JMO.

[Angel Who Cares]

ITA Boyz Mum I hope that they check out everyone who is seeking custody of Haylee...I'm hoping that the below couple mentioned are going to be the best place for Haylee. I don' want to find out that she is left in foster homes for the rest of her youn years till 18....we'd than forsure have another in the family following in her mother's & family footsteps. I hope that the step sister & husband are found to have a good home with a clean background. They sound young & really want what's best for Haylee....to be with family even if she is only a step sister it's still family for her to cherish & receive all the love this little one deserves!

I can't answer your questions about the grandmother...just that the Judge rules she has to pay for her own lawyers to represent her in the custody hearings!


Correction: Couple unrelated to girl in custody case
September 26, 2009
<snipped>
Steve and Susan Janoski are not related to Haylee Donathan, according to Mary Watson, Haylee's maternal grandmother. The Virginia couple is seeking custody of 4-year-old Haylee. The Janoskis were mentioned in a story that ran in Friday's News Journal. Steve Janoski said his wife was Watson's stepsister.

Article:
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/...WS01/909260319

[mysticrose]

County wants Haylee hearings closed
Judge to hear closure motion Friday; custody case delayed
By MARK CAUDILL • News Journal • October 1, 2009

MANSFIELD -- Richland County Children Services wants the public barred from future court hearings involving Haylee Donathan.
Before the scheduled start of the 4-year-old's custody trial Wednesday, attorney Edith Gilliland filed a motion to close the courtroom to the media.

"Allowing continued access of this matter would subject this child, of tender years, to further unnecessary public scrutiny and is not in the best interest of the child," she wrote in her motion.

Juvenile Court Judge Ron Spon scheduled a hearing on the issue for Friday at 9 a.m. News Journal Editor Tom Brennan said the newspaper's attorney will argue to keep the courtroom open.

Spon said the First Amendment offers the media a "powerful and protected right."

"It goes to the very essence of our democracy, which is the right of the public to have access to information," he said.

Gilliland also filed a motion for a continuance in the custody hearing, which Spon granted. He did not schedule another trial date.

After the hearing, Gilliland would not give a reason for the motion, but court administrator Mike Casto said the local agency wants to hold off until Haylee's mother is sentenced Oct. 12.

Candace Watson, 25, who has no known address but previously lived in Crestline, could receive up to five years in prison. She pleaded guilty this month to complicity to escape in the case of Robbi Potter. Watson ran off with Potter, 27, after he walked away from the local Volunteers of America halfway house in late May, leading to a monthlong nationwide manhunt because the couple had Haylee with them.

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/...WS01/910010319

[Angel Who Cares]

JUDGE: Haylee proceedings will remain open to media
October 2, 2009
<snipped>
In denying a motion to close his courtroom, Richland County Juvenile Court Judge Ron Spon said Friday it's vital the public know how the legal process works.

Children Services asked the judge to exclude media from hearings involving the custody of Haylee Donathan, a move opposed by the News Journal.

After attorneys for the newspaper and the agency failed to reach a compromise in two hours of conferences, Spon listened to oral arguments in open session and then ruled the hearings will remain open.

"To close these proceedings would tend to detract from confidence that the public might have in the judicial branch of government," the judge said. "It is very important in a free society for citizens to know what we do."

Candace Watson, 25, who has no known address but previously lived in Crestline, will be sentenced Oct. 12 for complicity to escape. She could receive up to five years in prison.

Representing the News Journal, attorney William Kolis cited the Ohio Supreme Court, which ruled a custody case can be closed only if public access could harm the child or endanger the fairness of the proceeding or if the potential for harm outweighs the benefits of public access.

Gilliland did not provide any evidence to support her claims at Friday's hearing.

"Statements that have been made are simply emotional arguments," Kolis said. "No evidence has been submitted to show that any harm would happen."

Spon agreed.

"We have a major problem. No evidence has been presented," Spon said. "The court cannot base its decision by making a judgment when no evidence has been presented. If the court were to make such a ruling, it would be overturned as an abuse of discretion."

Gilliland declined comment afterward. It's not known if the agency will appeal the judge's decision.

Spon will decide who gets custody of Haylee after her trial, which he scheduled for Nov. 16. He said people who might find themselves in similar situations need to know how the court handles such a case.

Article:
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/...-hearings-open

[Angel Who Cares]

Haylee's mom gets 3 years for role in sex offender's escape
October 12, 2009
<snipped>
Haylee Donathan’s mother was sentenced this afternoon to three years in prison for her role in a convicted sex offender’s escape.

Watson pleaded guilty to the third-degree felony last month. Richland County Common Pleas Judge James DeWeese said she could apply for early release from prison, but he gave no time frame.

Video: Haylee's mom gets 3 years for role in sex offender's escape 0:25
http://gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/m...ect=1293596004

Article:
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/...TES01/91012011

[Angel Who Cares]

UPDATE: Mom gets 3 years in sex offender's escape
October 13, 2009
<snipped>
Potter's flight led to a month-long nationwide manhunt for him, Watson and her 4-year-old daughter, Haylee Donathan. Potter and Watson have been in custody since their June 23 arrest outside San Diego. Haylee, who turned 5 over the weekend, is the subject of an ongoing custody case.

According to Watson's family, she wants to reunite with her daughter and Haylee's father, James Donathan. Last month, he also was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in Potter's escape. Richland County Common Pleas Judge James DeWeese said Donathan could apply for early release in nine months.

DeWeese chastised Watson before imposing his sentence.

"You made some really bad judgments. That was extraordinarily irresponsible," DeWeese said. "You got people all across the country upset, wondering what was going on with that child."

Article:
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/...ender-s-escape
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Video: Woman Gets 3 Years For Helping Boyfriend Escape 0:45
http://www.northcentralohio.com/news...sp?story=38159

[mysticrose]

Grandmother Seeking Custody Of Granddaughter Indicted
originally posted on: 10/20/2009 10:57:09 AM

The grandmother of a Crestline girl who was taken from Ohio to California by her mother and her mother's sex-offender boyfriend, was indicted Monday by the Richland County Grand Jury on three counts of drug trafficking.

Mary Watson, 47, is accused of selling morphine, hydrocodone and alprazolam in three separate incidents. Watson was arrested on Sept. 1 by the METRICH Enforcement Unit which handled the investigation

http://www.wmfd.com/newsboard/single.asp?Story=38254]

[Boyz_Mum]

http://www.wmfd.com/newsboard/single.asp?Story=38254

Hey mysticrose, I reposted the link because the ] at the end of the link you posted gave me an error message.

I am really having trouble with what the heck is Mary thinking??? She wants custody, but was busted for selling meds on 3 separate occassions? Poor little Haylee- I'm thankful she was found safe, it might have been in the nick of time to rescue her from all the dysfunction? (God only knows what else there is that hasn't been found out or published?)

Praying that the right guardian is found for Haylee.

[Angel Who Cares]

Custody-seeking grandma indicted
October 20, 2009
<snipped>
Haylee Donathan's grandmother has been indicted on three counts of drug trafficking.

Mary Watson, 47, is accused of selling morphine, hydrocodone and alprazolam in three separate incidents. If convicted on all counts, Watson could receive 3 1/2 years in prison.

Article:
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/...WS01/910200319
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Video: Grandmother Seeking Custody Of Granddaughter Indicted
http://www.wmfd.com/newsboard/player...sp?story=38254

[LaLaw2000]

Well, I did not want her to have custody of Haylee back when she was found and I am glad she didn't get it. I thought she looked/seemed like someone addicted even then.

I hope that little Haylee is in a very loving home, that she has total peace, and will have a very happy childhood. She deserves it!

No sympathy here for grandma!

[Angel Who Cares]

Woman pleads no contest to charges stemming from sex offender's escape
November 3, 2009
<snipped>
A 21-year-old woman likely will avoid prison time for her involvement in a sex offender's escape.

Nicole Kirkpatrick, of 888 Lehigh Ave., pleaded no contest Monday to complicity to escape. She allowed Robbi Potter to use her cell phone to call Candace Watson for a ride after he walked away from the local Volunteers of America halfway house in late May.

A judge is expected to decide Haylee's custody at a trial later this month. She has been in foster care since returning to Ohio in July.

Article:
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/...WS01/911030321

[AmandaReckonwith]

Thanks for keeping this thread updated.
The case photo album has been updated too. http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ee%20Donathan/

[Angel Who Cares]

Haylee wanted by many families
Her custody trial begins Monday
November 15, 2009
<snipped>
A trial to decide who will have custody of the 5-year-old is set to start Monday in Richland County Juvenile Court. Haylee has been in foster care since July, when she returned from California.

Candace Watson, 25, who previously lived in Crestline, and Robbi Potter, 27, were arrested June 23 at a Christian retreat center outside San Diego. Last month, Watson was sentenced to three years in prison for complicity to escape.

James Donathan, Haylee's father, received the same sentence in September for his role in Potter's escape. Common Pleas Judge James DeWeese told both Watson and Donathan they could apply for early release if they stay out of trouble.

They are among several people seeking custody of Haylee.

Article:
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/...-many-families
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Children Services keeping custody of Haylee, for now
November 16, 2009
<snipped>
Haylee Donathan’s custody trial is not going forward.

After more than two hours of pretrial conferences, Haylee’s parents agreed to give temporary custody to Richland County Children Services. In return, Children Services said it would back off its request to terminate parental rights and seek permanent custody of the 5-year-old.

The third-party cases for legal custody remain pending. Others seeking custody are maternal grandmother Mary Watson; paternal grandmother Connie Donathan; Ken and Loretta Means, who live in Mansfield and are Mary Watson’s cousins; and Steve and Susan Janoski, of Virginia. Susan Janoski’s father was previously married to Mary Watson’s mother.

Article:
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/...TES01/91116014
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Haylee Donathan Remains In The Custody Of Children Services
11/16/2009 3:37:57 PM
<snipped>
Judge Ron Spon said the agreement was made to allow the court more time to determine the best interest of the child. Spon said children services does have the right to file a motion at any time for full custody, if needed. The third party cases for custody of Haylee are pending for Haylee's maternal grandmother, Mary Watson, paternal grandmother, Connie Donathan, Watson's cousins, Ken and Loretta Means of Mansfield and Steve and Susan Janoski of Virginia. Susan Janoski's late father was married to Mary Watson's mother. Spon said a decision could come within 60 to 90 days.

A status review hearing will be held Thursday at 9 a.m. to allow the court and all parties seeking custody to review additional information and requests for visitation.

Video: Haylee Donathan Remains In The Custody Of Children Services
http://www.wmfd.com/newsboard/player...sp?story=38616

Article:
http://www.wmfd.com/newsboard/single.asp?Story=38616
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Haylee: Temporary custody settled
November 17, 2009
<snipped>
"We maintain the right to file for permanent custody if and when we think it's appropriate," Children Services spokesman Carl Hunnell said. "I don't see anything changing in her status in the next two to three months."

In addition to the parents and Children Services, several other parties are seeking custody. Maternal grandmother Mary Watson, who has a pending criminal case involving three counts of drug trafficking, and paternal grandmother Connie Donathan want to raise the 5-year-old. They appeared without attorneys Monday.

Ken and Loretta Means, who live in Mansfield and are Mary Watson's cousins, were represented by attorney Glenda Thompson. Steve and Susan Janoski, who did not have an attorney, came to the hearing from their Virginia home. Susan Janoski's late father was married to Mary Watson's mother.

A status conference will take place Thursday to consider court-ordered doctor evaluations of everyone involved.

"The court does not know at this point the best home for Haylee," Spon said. The next step is a hearing within 60 days to review the case.

Article:
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/...ustody-settled

[Angel Who Cares]

Man who started Haylee saga draws 3-year sentence
November 18, 2009
<snipped>
The sex offender who walked away from a local halfway house and took a 5-year-old girl and her mother across the country was sentenced this afternoon to three years in prison.

Potter had previous convictions for two counts of sexual battery involving 7- and 9-year-old victims. He could have received up to 10 years in prison for his latest offenses, but attorneys from both sides recommended three years on both charges, with the sentences to be served concurrently.



Photos: Potter sentenced to 3 years 1/16
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/...1180803&Ref=PH

Article:
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/...TES01/91118018

[Angel Who Cares]

Sex Offender Gets 3 Years For Escape From Halfway House
11/19/2009 9:12:53 AM
<snipped>
Robbi Potter, 27, was sentenced to three years in prison in Richland County Common Pleas Court for escape and failure to provide change of address information.

Potter pleaded guilty to the charges as part of a plea bargain with prosecutors. Potter could have received 10 years in prison.

Video: Sex Offender Gets 3 Years For Escape From Halfway House 00:33
http://www.northcentralohio.com/news...sp?story=38654

Article:
http://www.northcentralohio.com/news...sp?Story=38654