Saturday, June 28, 2014
Friday, May 23, 2014
Thursday, May 22, 2014
SPECIAL REPORT: Radio reporter says judge scared him off from covering allegations against Doug Nelson
Posted: May 21, 2014 10:31 PM EDTUpdated: May 21, 2014 10:31 PM EDT
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
WFXG continuing to investigate allegations against Doug Nelson
Posted: May 21, 2014 12:12 AM EDTUpdated: May 21, 2014 12:12 AM EDTNick Lulli - Reporting from Fox 54
CLICK HERE to watch Story
AUGUSTA, GA (WFXG) -
CLICK HERE to watch Story
AUGUSTA, GA (WFXG) -
We've been following the story for months: mothers who said Doug Nelson sexually harassed them, and a father who said Nelson sent inappropriate messages to a witness in his case.
First a military veteran who said Nelson touched her inappropriately after a meeting about her case in 2011.
"And then he puts his hand on my back, starts rubbing my back, all the way down to my bottom. As in, my rear."
Then, another mother who showed us text messages she said Nelson sent her during her case in 2012.
"He came right out and asked what was your sex life like. And I was thinking okay, we have a problem."
Another mom accused Nelson of hugging her too closely.
"I couldn't believe it. I'm not easily offended. I've worked around a lot of men, single-handedly, being in the military, working around sexual harassment. I knew clearly what it was."
And - a father fighting in a custody case showed us text messages he said Nelson sent to his son's teacher, a witness in the case.
"He pretty much did what he wanted to do with no regard for me or my family."
The day after our initial story ran, Nelson resigned his position as a Columbia County associate magistrate judge.
Prior to our story airing, Nelson had maintained the allegations as false.
He has since stopped returning our calls and text messages.
First a military veteran who said Nelson touched her inappropriately after a meeting about her case in 2011.
"And then he puts his hand on my back, starts rubbing my back, all the way down to my bottom. As in, my rear."
Then, another mother who showed us text messages she said Nelson sent her during her case in 2012.
"He came right out and asked what was your sex life like. And I was thinking okay, we have a problem."
Another mom accused Nelson of hugging her too closely.
"I couldn't believe it. I'm not easily offended. I've worked around a lot of men, single-handedly, being in the military, working around sexual harassment. I knew clearly what it was."
And - a father fighting in a custody case showed us text messages he said Nelson sent to his son's teacher, a witness in the case.
"He pretty much did what he wanted to do with no regard for me or my family."
The day after our initial story ran, Nelson resigned his position as a Columbia County associate magistrate judge.
Prior to our story airing, Nelson had maintained the allegations as false.
He has since stopped returning our calls and text messages.
Copyright 2014 WFXG. All rights reserved.
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Advocacy group protests imprisonment of local father
Posted: May 09, 2014 1:35 AM EDTUpdated: May 09, 2014 1:39 AM EDT
CLICK HERE To Watch Story
EVANS, GA (WFXG) -
EVANS, GA (WFXG) -
A local advocacy group, Stop Parental Bullying, in association my Atlanta-based My Advocate Center, is protesting the imprisonment of a local father.
Robbie Roberson was jailed after unknowingly violating a court order which prohibited him from seeing his daughter. Roberson is involved in a contentious custody dispute.
"Under the advice of his attorney, he thought he could go have lunch with his daughter," said Ron Burton, from Stop Parental Bullying. "He went to the elementary school, and had lunch with his daughter. And he didn't try to attempt to snatch her and run off with her, he just went and had lunch with his daughter."
Advocates said Roberson is seeking legal counsel outside the area to assist in dismissing the charges.
Copyright 2014 WFXG. All rights reserved.
Demonstrators hold candlelight vigil outside Columbia Co. jail
Posted: Apr 05, 2014 3:56 PM EDTUpdated: Apr 05, 2014 3:59 PM EDT
More accusations emerge against Doug Nelson also against Judge Roper
Nick Lulli ReportingPosted: May 16, 2014 9:46 PM EDTUpdated: May 16, 2014 10:30 PM EDT
CLICK HERE To Watch Story
AUGUSTA, GA (WFXG) -
"Judge Roper let the slack out on his leash, so he could just do and have whatever he wanted."
He doesn't want to show his face or share his name, but this young father said Doug Nelson was the guardian ad litem assigned to his case, one that didn't get a ruling in his favor.
"He pretty much did what he wanted to do, with no regard for me or my family," he said.
The father said the ruling is surprising because of his ex-wife's trouble with the law.
Nelson's August 12th, 2013 guardian ad-litem report notes the wife's 2012 arrests for manufacturing marijuana and child neglect, charges backed up by past court records.
Nelson also noted the mother's charges were dismissed and she was working to get the charges expunged, and according to court officials, the charges can no longer be found on the books. Nelson recommended the mom get visitation rights.
He doesn't want to show his face or share his name, but this young father said Doug Nelson was the guardian ad litem assigned to his case, one that didn't get a ruling in his favor.
"He pretty much did what he wanted to do, with no regard for me or my family," he said.
The father said the ruling is surprising because of his ex-wife's trouble with the law.
Nelson's August 12th, 2013 guardian ad-litem report notes the wife's 2012 arrests for manufacturing marijuana and child neglect, charges backed up by past court records.
Nelson also noted the mother's charges were dismissed and she was working to get the charges expunged, and according to court officials, the charges can no longer be found on the books. Nelson recommended the mom get visitation rights.
But Superior Court Judge J. David Roper took it one step further. He said, after considering several factors, the child had a better bond with the mom and in a final ruling on August 12, 2013, gave her primary physical custody.
We did call and text listed phone numbers for the mother but have yet to hear back.
The father said he decided to step forward after seeing our original story, where women accused Nelson of being inappropriate with them. He said he saw some similarities in his own case because of what he said one witness was sent.
"Similar text messages as inappropriate or even more inappropriate in some cases," said the father.
In documents the father gave us, local attorney Andy Tisdale emailed screenshots of text messages to Judge Roper on August 22, 2013. Nelson allegedly sent the messages to the child's teacher, who was a witness on the case.
We reached out to Tisdale, who did not represent the litigants or witnesses in this case, and he confirmed the authenticity of the email, but denied releasing it to other parties.
In the messages, Nelson tells the teacher she's the most beautiful he's ever met, and that he came to the school to see her, waiting for an hour in the office after music class. She thanks him for the compliments and for being honest, but then tells him they must keep their communication professional.
Multiple attempts to contact the teacher were unanswered. But in a sworn statement on Augusta 12th, 2013, the teacher confirmed she did receive what she called "inappropriate" remarks to her cell phone, and they were reported to the school principal.
However, Judge Roper said he did not allow the statement to be admitted as evidence in the case, and he said it's his policy not to discuss the specifics behind actions in active, past, or upcoming cases.
Multiple calls, emails, and messages for the school principal were also unanswered.
We asked Judge Roper about the email. He confirmed he did receive it, but said since he had already ruled on the case, and since Nelson had resigned as a guardian altogether on Augusta 13th, 2012, the "point was moot."
When we pressed him about not reporting the text messages to another agency, like the police, he said while the messages were inappropriate, he didn't feel a crime had been committed, and that "sexual harassment is not a crime in Georgia."
The father in this case said he felt hopeless about the situation.
"I tried every route I could think of. And no doors opened up. Nobody would help me."
We did call and text listed phone numbers for the mother but have yet to hear back.
The father said he decided to step forward after seeing our original story, where women accused Nelson of being inappropriate with them. He said he saw some similarities in his own case because of what he said one witness was sent.
"Similar text messages as inappropriate or even more inappropriate in some cases," said the father.
In documents the father gave us, local attorney Andy Tisdale emailed screenshots of text messages to Judge Roper on August 22, 2013. Nelson allegedly sent the messages to the child's teacher, who was a witness on the case.
We reached out to Tisdale, who did not represent the litigants or witnesses in this case, and he confirmed the authenticity of the email, but denied releasing it to other parties.
In the messages, Nelson tells the teacher she's the most beautiful he's ever met, and that he came to the school to see her, waiting for an hour in the office after music class. She thanks him for the compliments and for being honest, but then tells him they must keep their communication professional.
Multiple attempts to contact the teacher were unanswered. But in a sworn statement on Augusta 12th, 2013, the teacher confirmed she did receive what she called "inappropriate" remarks to her cell phone, and they were reported to the school principal.
However, Judge Roper said he did not allow the statement to be admitted as evidence in the case, and he said it's his policy not to discuss the specifics behind actions in active, past, or upcoming cases.
Multiple calls, emails, and messages for the school principal were also unanswered.
We asked Judge Roper about the email. He confirmed he did receive it, but said since he had already ruled on the case, and since Nelson had resigned as a guardian altogether on Augusta 13th, 2012, the "point was moot."
When we pressed him about not reporting the text messages to another agency, like the police, he said while the messages were inappropriate, he didn't feel a crime had been committed, and that "sexual harassment is not a crime in Georgia."
The father in this case said he felt hopeless about the situation.
"I tried every route I could think of. And no doors opened up. Nobody would help me."
Copyright 2014 WFXG. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Advocacy group protests
imprisonment of local father
Click HERE to Watch Story
EVANS, GA (WFXG) -
Click HERE to Watch Story
EVANS, GA (WFXG) -
A local advocacy group, Stop Parental Bullying, in association my Atlanta-based My Advocate Center, is protesting the imprisonment of a local father.
Robbie Roberson was jailed after unknowingly violating a court order which prohibited him from seeing his daughter. Roberson is involved in a contentious custody dispute.
"Under the advice of his attorney, he thought he could go have lunch with his daughter," said Ron Burton, from Stop Parental Bullying. "He went to the elementary school, and had lunch with his daughter. And he didn't try to attempt to snatch her and run off with her, he just went and had lunch with his daughter."
Advocates said Roberson is seeking legal counsel outside the area to assist in dismissing the charges.
Copyright 2014 WFXG. All rights reserved.
Doug Nelson resigns
as magistrate judge
Posted: May 01, 2014 3:54 PM EDT
Updated: May 02, 2014 7:22 PM EDT
Posted: May 01, 2014 3:54 PM EDT
Updated: May 02, 2014 7:22 PM EDT
.
Advocacy group calls for re-opening of custody cases
Click HERE to Watch Story
An Atlanta-based advocacy group is calling for the re-opening of custody cases former magistrate judge Doug Nelson worked on as a guardian ad litem.
Nelson is at the center of a WFXG investigation in which several women accused Nelson of sexually harassing them while working on their custody cases.
Nelson resigned his post as magistrate judge less than 24 hours after our initial report aired.
"Knowing what we know now about this particular guardian ad litem, every single report needs to be brought to the attention of law enforcement, the state bar, the judicial qualifications commission, and our legislators," said Deb Beacham, Executive Director of My Advocate Center.
Court officials said, generally speaking, litigants can file an extraordinary motion for new trial when new evidence arises.
Nelson has previously denied all accusations. He could not be reached for new comment in regards to this story.
Copyright 2014 WFXG. All rights reserved.
Accusations against Doug Nelson
SPECIAL REPORT: Women make accusations against former guardian ad litem
Posted: Apr 30, 2014 8:34 PM EDTUpdated: May 01, 2014 11:19 AM EDTClick HERE to Watch Story
AUGUSTA, GA (WFXG) -
Several women in the CSRA have made some serious accusations against a man assigned by the court system to work on their child custody cases.
"We've always done things together. Inseparable."
That's how this mother - a military veteran currently serving in the United States Army - describes her relationship with her children before a court order took them away from her.
Court documents show her case in 2011 was assigned a guardian ad litem - a person appointed by the judge in a custody dispute - to make recommendations. That person was Doug Nelson, who presently serves as a Columbia County magistrate judge.
The mom said Nelson met her at an Augusta motel for a meeting when she said the situation took a bad turn.
"We're walking outside the parking lot," explained the mom. "And he puts his arm around me. And he's rubbing my arm up and down. And then he puts his hand on my back. Starts rubbing my back. All the way down to my bottom. As in, my rear. And I'm like. This is no way for a guardian ad litem to be carrying himself with nobody."
She made a report this year to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office. Investigators said they're still looking into the allegations.
She said he eventually ended contact with her and wrote his report, which she believes ultimately led to her custody of her children being revoked.
"This judge has basically made it a point to make my life miserable, saying, 'I wasn't going to get the children back,' saying I manipulated their minds. But nobody has even talked to the children."
According to Nelson's final report in her case to Judge Daniel Craig, he didn't list the kids as interviewees when making his report, but said this mother alienated the kids from their father.
According to the document, he did, however, interview six people with listed relationships to the father - but none for the mom.
Nelson also gave a two paragraph status update for the father, describing what he believed to be the father's "touching" hobby of writing books on social issues.
The mom got two cut-and-dry sentences stating her name, location of residence and Army pay grade.
The report states Nelson ultimately recommended custody for the father because of the mother's "willful and intentional alienation" of the children.
After hearing the allegations, we tried to reach out to Nelson. A court secretary gave us his cell phone number to reach him on.
Nelson said seven words: "Didn't happen. All I have to say."
One of the witnesses Nelson interviewed in this case who doesn't have a custody case, is also now making allegations of her own. She said he arranged a follow-up meeting where she says he asked about her personal life.
"His specific comment was, 'Well, now that he's gone, you're definitely going to be needing a man in your life, and I know how to take care of that.'"
In another case, another mom said Nelson sent her inappropriate text messages while working on her custody case two years ago, and also asked her what she calls inappropriate questions in person.
"He came right out and asked, 'What was your sex life like?'" she said. "And I was thinking, 'Okay, we have a problem.'"
That's how this mother - a military veteran currently serving in the United States Army - describes her relationship with her children before a court order took them away from her.
Court documents show her case in 2011 was assigned a guardian ad litem - a person appointed by the judge in a custody dispute - to make recommendations. That person was Doug Nelson, who presently serves as a Columbia County magistrate judge.
The mom said Nelson met her at an Augusta motel for a meeting when she said the situation took a bad turn.
"We're walking outside the parking lot," explained the mom. "And he puts his arm around me. And he's rubbing my arm up and down. And then he puts his hand on my back. Starts rubbing my back. All the way down to my bottom. As in, my rear. And I'm like. This is no way for a guardian ad litem to be carrying himself with nobody."
She made a report this year to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office. Investigators said they're still looking into the allegations.
She said he eventually ended contact with her and wrote his report, which she believes ultimately led to her custody of her children being revoked.
"This judge has basically made it a point to make my life miserable, saying, 'I wasn't going to get the children back,' saying I manipulated their minds. But nobody has even talked to the children."
According to Nelson's final report in her case to Judge Daniel Craig, he didn't list the kids as interviewees when making his report, but said this mother alienated the kids from their father.
According to the document, he did, however, interview six people with listed relationships to the father - but none for the mom.
Nelson also gave a two paragraph status update for the father, describing what he believed to be the father's "touching" hobby of writing books on social issues.
The mom got two cut-and-dry sentences stating her name, location of residence and Army pay grade.
The report states Nelson ultimately recommended custody for the father because of the mother's "willful and intentional alienation" of the children.
After hearing the allegations, we tried to reach out to Nelson. A court secretary gave us his cell phone number to reach him on.
Nelson said seven words: "Didn't happen. All I have to say."
One of the witnesses Nelson interviewed in this case who doesn't have a custody case, is also now making allegations of her own. She said he arranged a follow-up meeting where she says he asked about her personal life.
"His specific comment was, 'Well, now that he's gone, you're definitely going to be needing a man in your life, and I know how to take care of that.'"
In another case, another mom said Nelson sent her inappropriate text messages while working on her custody case two years ago, and also asked her what she calls inappropriate questions in person.
"He came right out and asked, 'What was your sex life like?'" she said. "And I was thinking, 'Okay, we have a problem.'"
She included screenshots of the messages in a brief we obtained that was filed with the court clerk's office to Judge Daniel Craig. When we reached out to Craig, he said it would be "improper for a judge to discuss the accuracy of a brief" like the one filed and that this case is pending trial.
Sent from a phone number we confirmed through magistrate court offices belonging to Nelson, the messages we read say he "wanted to touch" and also discussed the mom's attire. When she told him what she would be wearing to a hearing, Nelson responded, "giddy up - can't wait to see."
And there's another case.
In a statement to the Columbia County Sheriff's Office this year, another woman alleges in 2012 that Nelson pulled her body right up to his and stroked her arm and back.
"I couldn't believe it. I'm not easily offended. I've worked around a lot of men, single-handedly, being in the military, working around sexual harassment. I knew clearly what it was."
That case is also still under investigation, police said.
After hearing the additional allegations, we reached out to Nelson again.
He sent me a statement via text message, re-iterating these are allegations only and that he worked cases where he says people lash out because of kids being involved. Nelson said these women are looking for a reason to get back in court.
But when asked pointed questions about the proof the women say they have - including screenshots of text messages - he said he handled 50 to 75 cases at a time and has no idea about those text messages - because that was the normal mode of communication at the time. He also says he never put anyone in an uncomfortable situation.
He sent me a statement via text message, re-iterating these are allegations only and that he worked cases where he says people lash out because of kids being involved. Nelson said these women are looking for a reason to get back in court.
But when asked pointed questions about the proof the women say they have - including screenshots of text messages - he said he handled 50 to 75 cases at a time and has no idea about those text messages - because that was the normal mode of communication at the time. He also says he never put anyone in an uncomfortable situation.
Nelson agreed to meet face-to-face, but on the day of our scheduled meeting, he said he had reviewed some guidelines for guardians ad litem and felt he could no longer discuss the allegations.
Copyright 2014 WFXG. All rights reserved.
Mom begs school board
to intervene in son's welfare issues
Click HERE to watch story
EVANS, GA (WFXG) -
Click HERE to watch story
EVANS, GA (WFXG) -
Columbia County mother Melanie Lee is going public with her struggle to get help for her son.
She went before the Columbia County Board of Education on Tuesday night to make her case.
Lee said she has contacted the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, and her son's school after he made threats to students, drew disturbing drawings, and threatened self harm.
Police reports document her claims to the Sheriff's Office.
She's hoping that by going before the board, someone will finally intervene before more trouble arises at school.
"He has been displaying several attempts of crying out for help," said Lee. "These issues first started at Cedar Ridge Elementary in 2012 when he was reported by school officials, that he tried to commit suicide, at age six."
After her speech, a school board representative did approach Lee and assured her they would take a fresh look at the issue first thing in the morning and give her a call.
Lee is not the only parent in our area dealing with custody issues and the welfare of her child, according to Atlanta-based My Advocate Center.
Copyright 2014 WFXG. All rights reserved.
Mother fights Augusta Family Courts
Click HERE to Watch Story
Columbia County, GA (WFXG) -
Columbia County, GA (WFXG) -
"And there's no words to describe what it was like to force your child to go back to a situation you knew was unsafe for him."
On the verge of tears, a local mom explained the ordeal she's been through. We'll call her Veronica. She said her son, a second grader, is being abused while in the home of his father, her ex-husband - a law enforcement officer in our area.
"We believe he's being sexually, mentally, physically, emotionally abused," said Veronica.
And she has medical records she said backs up her claims. In documents from Georgia Regents Medical Center, doctors said something is happening to her son that causes symptoms "significant for post traumatic stress disorder." Doctors also found evidence of trauma that Veronica believes to be evidence of sexual abuse.
Veronica said those problem follow her son to school, where she said he creates disturbing drawings.
"He is very violent with other children, as reported by the school," said Veronica. "He is writing death threats to the students, as of this past Friday."
According to Veronica, she's tried to make these claims in court, but they've fallen on deaf ears
A secretary for the Honorable Daniel Craig, the judge in her proceedings said he won't comment on specific cases.
And now Veronica is making a plea for any help she can get.
"Why in my son's case is it going to come down to something happening to one of these children, when it could have been prevented this whole time," asked Veronica.
Family advocacy groups said Veronica's case is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to problems with family court.
"Reform is absolutely needed," said Deb Beacham, Executive Director of My Advocate Center. "We've gone to the capital to try to educate legislators, to look at statutes, and understand how we can help ensure the courts let evidence make it on the records."
Beacham said she is fighting for the rights of all parents. She Veronica's case is like a lot of others she has followed across the state; and now, changes are needed.
"This mother should not be cut off from her child," said Beacham. "Especially not when the evidence exists, and there's new evidence on this case."
Beacham said she wants what all moms like Veronica want: what's best for the children.
"To see that this child is restored to the parent trying to protect them," said Beacham.
"We believe he's being sexually, mentally, physically, emotionally abused," said Veronica.
And she has medical records she said backs up her claims. In documents from Georgia Regents Medical Center, doctors said something is happening to her son that causes symptoms "significant for post traumatic stress disorder." Doctors also found evidence of trauma that Veronica believes to be evidence of sexual abuse.
Veronica said those problem follow her son to school, where she said he creates disturbing drawings.
"He is very violent with other children, as reported by the school," said Veronica. "He is writing death threats to the students, as of this past Friday."
According to Veronica, she's tried to make these claims in court, but they've fallen on deaf ears
A secretary for the Honorable Daniel Craig, the judge in her proceedings said he won't comment on specific cases.
And now Veronica is making a plea for any help she can get.
"Why in my son's case is it going to come down to something happening to one of these children, when it could have been prevented this whole time," asked Veronica.
Family advocacy groups said Veronica's case is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to problems with family court.
"Reform is absolutely needed," said Deb Beacham, Executive Director of My Advocate Center. "We've gone to the capital to try to educate legislators, to look at statutes, and understand how we can help ensure the courts let evidence make it on the records."
Beacham said she is fighting for the rights of all parents. She Veronica's case is like a lot of others she has followed across the state; and now, changes are needed.
"This mother should not be cut off from her child," said Beacham. "Especially not when the evidence exists, and there's new evidence on this case."
Beacham said she wants what all moms like Veronica want: what's best for the children.
"To see that this child is restored to the parent trying to protect them," said Beacham.
To report cases of possible injustice, or help families in need, go to the My Advocate Center website.
Copyright 2014 WFXG. All rights reserved.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)