Fenwick graduation 2012
Ponitz graduation 2012
Cars and Parts Swap Meet
Home > Blogs > Dayton Courts: Legal and crime news > Archives > 2010 > July > 26
Monday, July 26, 2010
Baby Vanessa: Mills wants his mom to raise girl
DAYTON — The father of Baby Vanessa says his mother is willing to raise his daughter, according to a statement released by his attorney Monday, July 26.
Benjamin Mills, 39, of Dayton maintains that he never consented to the adoption of Vanessa, who lives with her adoptive mother, Stacey Doss, 45, in California. Mills has three children with Andrea Conley, 31, who lives in Riverside. Conley supports Doss’ efforts to finalize the adoption.
Mills’ mother, Rena Jordan, has had legal custody of Mills’ two other children with Conley since 2008, according to the statement released by Legal Aid of Western Ohio attorney Elizabeth Gorman, who represents Mills.
That statement also quotes Cristy Oakes, who represents Jordan. Oakes’ statement identifies Jordan as a retired school teacher.
“At this time, Ms. Jordan is ready, willing and able to take custody of her granddaughter,” Oakes said. “She wants to raise her granddaughter with her two siblings in a loving, caring environment.
Gorman said that Mills wants to start a relationship with Vanessa and to bond with her family. She also said that Mills and Jordan both believe that “the custody issues involving their daughter and granddaughter are private and should be resolved in the court and not in the media.”
Permalink | |
Baby Vanessa: Birth mom files for protection order against Mills
DAYTON — Baby Vanessa’s birth mother, who is supporting the child’s adoption, filed a petition for a domestic violence civil protection order on Friday, July 23, against the child’s father, Benjamin Mills, Jr.
The petition, filed by Andrea Conley, states that she was downtown in the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority hub when Mills came up behind her and grabbed her. He let her loose after she screamed, and she had someone escort her to her bus, according to the sworn statement she gave.
“Benjamin still stayed outside the bus trying to talk to me,” Conley wrote. “I was fearful and scared that he could of followed the bus and was going to grab me when I got off at my stop.”
No incident report was filed with Dayton Police Department, and Mills does not currently face criminal charges in relation with the allegation. The civil protection order is civil, though violating one can lead to criminal charges.
Conley, 31, and Mills, 29, have a long history of agitating each other. Both have been convicted of domestic violence against each other — in Mills case, it was a felony that resulted in state prison time. Both have had prior protection orders against each other, according to police and court records.
In December 2007, Conley pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of violating Mills’ protection order against her. In August 2008, she pleaded guilty to three felony counts of violating his protection order.
Mills is currently fighting for custody of Vanessa with Stacey Doss the California woman who adopted her.
Permalink | |
