DEFENDANT'S AFFIDAVIT IN OPPOSITION TO Howard G. Ferguson, being duly sworn, deposes and says: 1. I am the defendant in the above captioned action and hereby object to the plaintiff's application for modification of custody with the minor child ex parte, and for an order of permanent custody, and request that my son be returned to my exclusive custody, for the reasons hereinafter set forth. 2. I categorically deny the allegations that I sexually abused my son, Steven, at any time, and further state that I am a fit and responsible parent and am an appropriate person to have custody of Steven, as was acknowledged by the plaintiff when she voluntarily agreed to give sole custody of Steven to me in early 1987. 3. Plaintiff has demonstrated herself to be unfit to have custody of Steven. The custody of all three children was awarded jointly at the time of the divorce in 1983, and the children lived with plaintiff. In a letter to me in October of 1986, respondent stated:
4. Plaintiff clearly felt incapable of dealing with Steven's alleged behavioral problems which had developed while he was in plaintiff's custody. Subsequent to this letter, plaintiff refused to take Steven back after what was supposed to be a weekend visitation and thereafter voluntarily stipulated to give me sole custody. Steven has lived with me continuously since January 1987. He has been enrolled in the Canterbury School where he was to have begun sixth grade last week, but for the legal proceedings commenced by his mother. All of Steven's classmates from fifth grade will be back in his class this year. It is defendant's position that it would be in Steven's best interest to continue to reside with me as he has for the last year and a half, and to continue to go to school with his old schoolmates and be within the vicinity of his friends. 5. Defendant has arranged to have a series of other adults supervise defendant's continued custody of Steven, should the court feel that necessary or appropriate. However, the defendant respectfully requests the court to expedite the proceedings in this matter since it is clearly a tremendous burden and inconvenience to all concerned, to be subjected to this supervised status for an extended period of time. At the present, defendant has arranged for supervisors to reside in his house with him and assist in Steven's day to day care, for a period of two months. It is hoped that that should give sufficient time for the court to order, and the professionals to conduct, the various psychological, psychiatric and physical examinations defendant has sought by motion. Annexed hereto as Exhibit 2 is a schedule for the next two months showing the days each of the supervisors will be staying with us. 6. Steven has already suffered the trauma of having been rejected by his mother in the autumn of 1986 and had his residence and custody transferred from his mother to me in January, 1987. It would not be in his best interests to place him temporarily with his mother where he would have to meet new friends and start a new school, only to ultimately have the court conclude that his custody should remain with me, which would then require Steven to move back with me and start school in the middle of the year. This kind of uncertainty certainly is not in Steven's best interest.7. As long as my continued custody of Steven is supervised, the court should be comfortable that there is no risk of danger to Steven by continuing to let him reside with me. Steven has, throughout the time he has resided with me, had his own room and his own bed, and will again do so. 8. I have denied the allegations of abuse. However, I am willing to subject myself and my son to the imposition of supervision, in order to protect each of us from the damage that would result from further false accusations, and to permit the appropriate evaluations to take place on an expedited basis so that the issues raised can be promptly resolved and Steven's best interests determined by the Court. 9. It is respectfully requested that the court refuse to continue the ex parte transfer of custody to my ex-wife, and reinstate the previous stipulation and order of the court granting me exclusive legal and physical custody of my son, Steven, pending whatever additional investigation of these allegations is necessary and their ultimate determination by the court. It is further requested that such investigation and determination be made on an expedited basis to minimize the trauma to my son.
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