Child Detained

My name is John Mercier. In October of last year my son Isaiah Burk was removed from his mothers home for neglect and mental abuse. CWS refused to give him to me because of my living situation, and detained him in foster care. Then CWS prepared a detention report that was totally unreasonable and I told my county appointed lawyer Michael Carty that I wanted to contest Isaiah's detention, and I disagreed with the CWS recomendations. They wanted me to enroll and complete a drug treatment program and I've never had a drug charge, also they wanted me to participate in anger management and parenting classes, when there was no event that warrented these classes. I have never abused my son in any way and they know that.

Michael Carty told me in october 2006 that if I refused to participate in the CWS "family reunification plan" that he could not represent me, and would no longer be my lawyer.

Eventually I was able to reason with Isaiah's social worker Lucia Bodine and convince her that the classes were unwarrented and she agreed. I participated in my visits and everything was on track for Isaiah to come home August 1st 2007, the date of the review.

Isaiah then told me about terrible mistreatment in the foster home and I filed a child abuse report against the foster parents. Five days later I recieved a letter from Lucia Bodine that she had moved Isaiah to an institution 250 miles away from here in Beaumont CA, and that she was resigning from CWS. I was horrified and attempted to contact her supervisor. Nobody would return my calls so eventually I contacted Santa Barbara Count Sherriff Sgt. Allen. After He payed them a visit I finally recieved a call from the supervisor Caroline Karnoskus who told me that the recomendation on August 1st would be to continue to detain Isaiah in this institution in Beaumont, and that she knew nothing of Lucia Bodine's plan to recomend Isaiah come home.

I appeared in court August 1st and without speaking to me before court Michael Carty got up and told the court that I refused to participate in any type of family reunification services, and that I was "confrontational"... I tried to object and asked for a new laywer but the Judge refused. Judge Adams who's son is the famous founder of bargain network, a known scam company that has been raided by the federal authorities. I was then told to leave the court for being disruptive.

This is clearly a coverup by the county of Santa Barbara for their Gross Negligence in the handling of this case... involving county child welfare services, my county appointed lawyer, and the county juvinile court. My son remains illegally detained in Beaumont, and I have no representation.

I appeal to those reading this story to somehow help me gain some pro bono legal help for juvinile court. Everything I have stated here is true and I have all the supporting documentation to prove it. If only a lawyer would have the guts to stand up to the County of Santa Barbara...

Please help my son and I....