CONVICTED CHILD MOLESTER SEEKING VISITATION WITH BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN

Well, DAN BAKER, the monster who took the innocence of my beautiful daughter back in 2004, was released from jail in Dec. 2008. Yes, he only served 3-1/2 years. He was also my husband of 5 years, and the father of my 2 youngest children. The day after having him arrested, I immediately went to the courthouse to file for divorce and obtain a permanent injunction which still remains in effect. The divorce dragged on for almost 4 years because DAN BAKER thought he was entitled to contact and visitation with my 2 precious children and hired an attorney to fight for that. That wasn't happening. He gave up any rights to his children the night, actually the 18 month period, he took advantage of mine. I offered, no begged, him many times to sign his paternal rights away, in exchange for the house, everything in it, and us walking away with just our clothes. He, along with the financial backing of his family, refused and kept fighting.

I never had time to grieve. I never had time to deal with what happened to my precious daughter. Simultaneously, my ex-husband (who took me to court almost every 5 years for custody - but never won) swooped right in and ensued a 2-year (and $20k) custody battle. I not only ran out of money, but lost the custody battle because "residency had been established and the burden of proof was now on ME". My 3 stores, that I started from scratch, closed due to the incident being published in the paper, as well as my inability to run them. I was forced to file personal bankruptcy due to the landlords suing me for defaulting on the leases. It has been a long 6 years since his arrest and my life falling apart, but I have managed to re-build my life and gain some monecum of stability and peace. Although sadly, the relationship with my 3 children has been strained and changed forever, my 2 youngest are thriving, well-adjusted, happy, confident children.

Just when I thought we were in the clear, this past week, I received a motion in the mail from Dan's attorney asking the court for determination of "shared parental responsibility and visitation". This to me is unfathomable. It goes against any iota of reason and justice. Why would he even have ANY rights? He is a convicted sexual predator, a child molester. The law forbids him to go anywhere within 1,000 feet of ANY place children might be - parks, playgrounds, schools, etc. YET, there is a chance that MY children, the ones he victimized, will be forced to be stuck in some office where he will be able to gaze at them, touch them, and fantasize about what he would like to do to them???!!!!! NO WAY. There is NOTHING positive he can possibly contribute to their lives. It will only bring mental and emotional turmoil and distress.

The laws have to be changed. There has to be a clear cut statute that automatically strips a convicted child molester of any parental rights. Please join with me in protecting these two beautiful innocent children.