Found Safe WA - Seraya Aung Harmon, 2, Pullman, 29 May 2024 *father and daughter went on a fishing trip in Montana but did not return* #2

[PommyMommy]

Not much to see just yet, but here is the link to AA's case on Docketbird.

USA v. Aung
Criminal Court Docket Sheet​

Eastern District of Washington​

2:2024-mj-00442 (waed)

07/29/2024
Charges and Penalties as to Aaron Aung (1). (MO, Courtroom Deputy)

07/29/2024
AFFIDAVIT re [1] Criminal Complaint as to Aaron Aung (1). (MO, Courtroom Deputy)

07/29/2024
CRIMINAL COMPLAINT as to Aaron Aung (1). (MO, Courtroom Deputy)

https://www.docketbird.com/court-cases/USA-v-Aung/waed-2:2024-mj-00442

 

[LadyL]

glad to see charges against him
and his parents should be charged with assisting him
Nadia should obviously be charged as well but she probably co-operated to get out of her charges

 

[GRT]

glad to see charges against him
and his parents should be charged with assisting him
Nadia should obviously be charged as well but she probably co-operated to get out of her charges

I'm glad to see charges, too, but this is one area where I wish our justice system would adopt a different means of punishment.

If AA goes to prison, it will be satisfying, but it will leave Samara without the ability to collect monthly child support from him. That punishes her and Seraya as well.

There has to be a better way to punish parents who break the law without financially damaging the other parent and child(ren).

I want justice for Samara and Seraya. To me, that would be eliminating all of AA's visitation unless it was in a supervised facility and garnishing his wages at 50% for child support. People will say that's not humane, but I don't like the idea of punishing the victims even more than they've already suffered. MOO

 

[lesleyNOPE]

I'm glad to see charges, too, but this is one area where I wish our justice system would adopt a different means of punishment.

If AA goes to prison, it will be satisfying, but it will leave Samara without the ability to collect monthly child support from him. That punishes her and Seraya as well.

There has to be a better way to punish parents who break the law without financially damaging the other parent and child(ren).

I want justice for Samara and Seraya. To me, that would be eliminating all of AA's visitation unless it was in a supervised facility and garnishing his wages at 50% for child support. People will say that's not humane, but I don't like the idea of punishing the victims even more than they've already suffered. MOO

While he is incarcerated they can put an encumberment on his account which takes x % of any money deposited from the outside or his wages.

 

[NCWatcher]

While he is incarcerated they can put an encumberment on his account which takes x % of any money deposited from the outside or his wages.

Per the link below, last year the law in Washington was changed to raise the minimum wage in the state's prisons from 42¢/hour to $1/hour. Some jobs-- like making license plates--can pay up to $2.85/hr.

Low wages, high costs: WA prisoners say they’re being exploited

Not sure withholding money from even the higher wage job pay will make much of a difference in child support. On the other hand, mandating outside wages be garnished at 50% may not be fair either. While it's not the case here, often parents who break the law are responsible for providing for more than one child from more than one household.
MOO

 

[lesleyNOPE]

Per the link below, last year the law in Washington was changed to raise the minimum wage in the state's prisons from 42¢/hour to $1/hour. Some jobs-- like making license plates--can pay up to $2.85/hr.

Low wages, high costs: WA prisoners say they’re being exploited

Not sure withholding money from even the higher wage job pay will make much of a difference in child support. On the other hand, mandating outside wages be garnished at 50% may not be fair either. While it's not the case here, often parents who break the law are responsible for providing for more than one child from more than one household.
MOO

Yea prison wages are basically nothing, but encumberments also include any money people may put on his books as well.

 

[Inthedetails]

Yea prison wages are basically nothing, but encumberments also include any money people may put on his books as well.

Plus, it's more the principle than the amount, imo. The guy will have a constant reminder of obligations to his child that he neglected. He will be reminded he is a deadbeat and the State has to step in to take money that he should as a father provide.

jmo

 

[LadyL]

Per the link below, last year the law in Washington was changed to raise the minimum wage in the state's prisons from 42¢/hour to $1/hour. Some jobs-- like making license plates--can pay up to $2.85/hr.

Low wages, high costs: WA prisoners say they’re being exploited

Not sure withholding money from even the higher wage job pay will make much of a difference in child support. On the other hand, mandating outside wages be garnished at 50% may not be fair either. While it's not the case here, often parents who break the law are responsible for providing for more than one child from more than one household.
MOO

pretty sure his parents and other relatives will be sending him money

 

[NCWatcher]

pretty sure his parents and other relatives will be sending him money

Maybe so. In my post I was just addressing the issue of "garnishing" prison wages (and the idea of a law requiring 50% of wages earned outside of prison to be seized for child support.) I wasn't addressing gifts to prisoners that could be seized.
MOO

 

[GRT]

Per the link below, last year the law in Washington was changed to raise the minimum wage in the state's prisons from 42¢/hour to $1/hour. Some jobs-- like making license plates--can pay up to $2.85/hr.

Low wages, high costs: WA prisoners say they’re being exploited

Not sure withholding money from even the higher wage job pay will make much of a difference in child support. On the other hand, mandating outside wages be garnished at 50% may not be fair either. While it's not the case here, often parents who break the law are responsible for providing for more than one child from more than one household.
MOO

Good observations! At the higher minimum wage of $1 per hour, an inmate could make a maximum of $40 per week or $160 per month. I don't think there are many lisence-plate-making jobs any longer, as most states have gone to stickers to update plates every year.

Even if AA gave Samara his entire $140 per month, it would be a drop in the bucket compared to what she would receive if he were working on the outside. So, rather than justice, Seraya and Samara get closer to poverty.

I'm just not into that. Unless a person is convicted of a violent crime and society needs to be protected from them--I'm more interested in making them work in society and pay their fair share plus retribution. I think the punishment should always come as close to fitting the crime as possible. We have millions of children of inmates who live in poverty. Taxpayers have to pick up the tab, but it's not enough to raise those kids out of poverty. I want their dads to support them. Is that so wrong?

 

[tlcya]

Samara would be out money, except we already know AA wasn't paying his child support prior to the abduction so it's not like she wasn't already out money because of AA's decision not to pay it.

Samara is out money same as before, just different reasons. If she collects state benefits on Seraya's behalf then the state could later come back and sue AA for what they've had to spend on the child yes? At least I think that is how it works?

 

[MsMarple]

If Aaron goes to prison for a couple years I’d expect his parents to make sure Seraya was properly accommodated in terms of basic needs, right? That is if they actually care about providing her with adequate food, housing and maybe an occasional treat on her birthday.

It’s the least they could do to make up for their dead beat son’s behavior towards his daughter.

I guess time will tell just how much the Aungs love Seraya. MOO only.

 

[azure]

If Aaron goes to prison for a couple years I’d expect his parents to make sure Seraya was properly accommodated in terms of basic needs, right? That is if they actually care about providing her with adequate food, housing and maybe an occasional treat on her birthday.

It’s the least they could do to make up for their dead beat son’s behavior towards his daughter.

I guess time will tell just how much the Aungs love Seraya. MOO only.

Something tells me they'll attempt to provide for her by attempting to fight her mother for custody.

 

[PommyMommy]

JUL 31, 2024

Pullman dad booked into Whitman Co. jail on federal kidnapping charges

Aaron Aung was found in Mexico with his girlfriend and daughter. Mexican authorities took Aung and his daughter to the port of entry near Nogales, Arizona

www.king5.com

A Pullman father accused of kidnapping his 2-year-old daughter was booked into the Whitman County Jail Wednesday afternoon.

Aaron Aung, 21, was booked into jail on an international parental kidnapping charge, which was filed in the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington on Monday.

Federal authorities to charge Aaron Aung, after failing to return 2-year-old child

Aaron Aung the 21 year old man accused of not returning his 3 year old daufghter to

www.klewtv.com

According to the Whitman County Prosecutors Office and The Whitman County Sheriff's Office, it was decided that the federal government has the best resources to pursue charges against Aung and hold him accountable. Both offices worked with Federal authorities to return Aung to the region.

 

[PommyMommy]

JUL 31, 2024

Father who allegedly took 2-year-old to Mexico booked into Whitman County Jail

COLFAX, Wash. - Aaron Aung, father of 2-year-old Seraya Aung, was charged with custodial interference and booked into Whitman County Jail early Wednesday morning.

www.khq.com

According to the Whitman County Jail, Aung was booked at 12 a.m. and is being held without bail.

...and will remain in Whitman County until his trial.

Man accused of kidnapping to appear in fed court

The Moscow man accused of kidnapping his 2-year-old daughter and fleeing to Mexico has been ordered to appear in federal court.

dnews.com

If convicted on the federal charge, Aung could spend up to three years in prison, according to the U.S. Department of Justice’s website.

 

[GRT]

Samara would be out money, except we already know AA wasn't paying his child support prior to the abduction so it's not like she wasn't already out money because of AA's decision not to pay it.

Samara is out money same as before, just different reasons. If she collects state benefits on Seraya's behalf then the state could later come back and sue AA for what they've had to spend on the child yes? At least I think that is how it works?

From what I remember, and I could be wrong since it's been a while, Samara didn't initially go after child support until her mother, Shawna, encouraged it. That triggered the entire Aung family to try and get custody of Seraya because Samara was messy/impulsive/whatever.

I think they had some type of custody arrangement at the time AA absconded with the little one, so he would have been supporting Seraya during those times at least. And typically, the state will pursue child support payments from the bio dad because it falls on the taxpayers otherwise.

JMOO

 

[GRT]

According to the Whitman County Jail, Aung was booked at 12 a.m. and is being held without bail.

...and will remain in Whitman County until his trial.


If convicted on the federal charge, Aung could spend up to three years in prison, according to the U.S. Department of Justice’s website.

He's a known flight risk, so I totally agree with that!

The "up to three years" part is pretty weak though. My prediction is that he'll get 6 months in the county jail with time served.

I sure hope the judge orders fines to be paid off for Seraya and stays on top of garnishing his wages after that.

 

[momsof3]

Something tells me they'll attempt to provide for her by attempting to fight her mother for custody.

The same way they “supported” and “provided” for their son by encouraging and enabling him to abscond with and endanger their granddaughter. Now their son sits in jail with no bail and a seriously diminished future while I highly suspect he was not the mastermind here (not excusing him). Somehow all their “care” seems to be to the detriment of those the “love” and “care” for.

 

[GRT]

Something tells me they'll attempt to provide for her by attempting to fight her mother for custody.

I can see that happening.

Too bad they didn't teach their son to fight through the court system to begin with. It would have saved everyone a lot of heartache.

However, I hope any family court judge is smart enough not to give AA unsupervised custody again, at least not for years. He's shown himself to be unbalanced an untrustworthy.

 

[GRT]

The same way they “supported” and “provided” for their son by encouraging and enabling him to abscond with and endanger their granddaughter. Now their son sits in jail with no bail and a seriously diminished future while I highly suspect he was not the mastermind here (not excusing him). Somehow all their “care” seems to be to the detriment of those the “love” and “care” for.

To be fair, we don't know if his family encouraged or enabled him--but we do know that they tried to sway public opinion about Samara, which backfired badly.

That was beyond the pale--I don't know if they thought they could actually sway opinion to the extent that LE would stop hunting for them or what. It was nutty.

Somehow, I doubt AA's future will be much changed. He worked for his family's businesses, and he probably will again. Eventually, he could end up taking over those businesses.

But, this has to be a slap in the collective Aung face! They came out swinging and they struck out in a VERY public way. What fools.