GIRARD As custody battle continues, Asentes face contempt hearing

The boy is 4 years old now.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- The couple embroiled in an interstate custody battle will return to a Kentucky courtroom this week for a hearing on a contempt complaint filed against them.
Regina Moore and Jerry Dorning of Kentucky gave up their son, Justin, for adoption in February 1998, when the boy was 11 months old. Justin was placed with Rich and Cheryl Asente of Girard in February 1998. Justin is now 4.
The Kentucky couple changed their minds the following month and courts in Ohio and Kentucky have been hearing arguments in the case.
The Girard couple also previously adopted the Kentucky couple's older son, Joey, who is Justin's brother. Moore and Dorning gave Joey up for adoption in 1995.
Hearing set: Cheryl Asente said the hearing Wednesday in Covington, Ky., will address Moore and Dorning's motion for contempt against the Asentes.
"They're claiming we're denying them visitation even though we've made numerous offers to drive Justin down there for supervised visitation," she said.
Attorneys representing Moore and Dorning couldn't be reached.
The Kentucky couple filed the motion for contempt March 8, and Judge Patricia Summe of the Kentucky court scheduled the hearing within a few days, ignoring previous motions filed by the Asentes.
Request for supervision: Mrs. Asente said she and her husband wanted the court to amend the visitation order and require that Justin's visits with his biological parents be supervised.
"In January, some things that were very distressing came to our attention," Mrs. Asente said.
Debbie Grabarkiewicz, director of case advocacy for Hear My Voice, a Michigan-based group that supports the Asentes, said Justin told the Asentes and his therapist that Moore hit him.
Mrs. Asente said she and her husband, of Sioux Trail, are also concerned about the psychological effect of some of the things she says the biological parents said to Justin. She didn't elaborate.
The Girard woman said the couple's legal bills have topped $400,000. A defense fund is helping to support their cases. Donations may be mailed to the Asente Legal Aid Fund, P.O. Box 53, Niles 44446.