At the time of the hearing, Tracey was living with her boyfriend Taylor Adams. Throughout the custody hearing, Gary, her ex-husband, repeatedly referred to him as “One Taylor Adams.”
Gary: One Taylor Adams has a serious drinking problem. He has been in and out of rehab facilities for several years. He has been driving without a license for the past three or four years. He lost his driver’s license for driving while under the influence, and he never attended the substance abuse classes he was ordered to attend. It also appears that he failed to do several hours of community service he had been ordered to do. Tracey can do whatever she wants. I just do not want my son exposed to it.
When we first broke up she told me that she was moving in with One Taylor Adams. She said he had some problems, but it was all in his past and he was working hard to turn things around. I did not like the idea of her moving in with him with my son, but I went along with it because I have had a drinking problem. I am also a recovering alcoholic. I did some things when I was drinking that I am not proud of. And because people gave me a second chance, I decided it was only right for me to give One Taylor Adams the benefit of the doubt. If I can change, anyone can change.
Greg said one thing he and Tracey had agreed upon was that she would not allow the son to be home alone with “One Taylor Adams.”
Gary: I insisted on this because, just like I believe an alcoholic is capable of changing for the better, I also believe one can relapse easily. A few nights ago she called me and was crying hysterically. She was at her friend’s house and had left my son alone with One Taylor Adams, who had called her and had been drinking. She said she told him she was on her way home, but she had left on the headlights and the car wouldn’t start.
Her friend’s husband was in the process of jump-starting her battery when “One Taylor Adams” called back, fifteen minutes later, and said if she didn’t hurry and get home he was going to kill my son, her parents, and her dog. She said she could hear my son crying in the background. As soon as I hung up with her, I called the police. I told them what was going on, and then I rushed over to her house. On my way to her house I called my lawyer’s office and left a message, saying I wanted him to file whatever paperwork was needed to get full custody of my son.
Jackie’s Note: The cases posted in Courthouse Chronicles are real-life court cases that involve real people. For the record, I do not include any of the cases I have actually worked. If I hired a lawyer to represent me I would not want him or her writing about me so that’s why I don’t write about any of my clients. My research for these posts consists of sitting in the back of courtrooms listening to the testimony and witnessing the antics of other lawyers, their clients and people who chose to represent themselves.
Photo Credit: Visual Hunt