43
Judge: Addition of grandmother to Trumbull Children Services infant rape case unnecessary
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
A judge ruled the grandmother of a child reportedly raped during a visit by her biological parents at the Trumbull County Children Services offices on Reeves Road is not a party in the guardianship case involving her granddaughter.
Children services, however, will lose its position as the agency that supervises the child, visiting Judge David E. Stucki said Wednesday.
Judge Stucki issued the rulings during a hearing in Trumbull County Family/Juvenile Court.
“In this case, the court finds that the maternal grandmother’s addition to the case as a party is not necessary” to the child’s best interests, Judge Stucki wrote.
The mixed rulings left the grandmother, Loretta Banks of Warren, and children services both considering an appeal.
Susan Collins, one of the attorneys for children services, said she is pleased the ruling means Banks will not have standing to bring legal action against the agency.
“The impression a lot of people are getting is that it was financial,” Tammy Richardson said of the reason Banks filed the legal action. Richardson is another of the attorneys for children services.
Judge Stucki ruled that within 21 days, children services should notify the court of any other children services agency that could handle supervision of the child’s case. Otherwise, the court will designate one, Judge Stucki said.
“What is abundantly clear from the record in this case is that this child was perpetrated upon while supervised by [Trumbull Children Services] personnel at their facility,” Judge Stucki wrote.
Collins said it’s not clear what other agency it would recommend to take over supervision of the case since no similar transfer of authority has occurred in the 17 years she has worked for Trumbull Children Services.
The child, who is now about 21 months old, has been staying with a foster family and will remain with that family, Judge Stucki said.
Another hearing takes place later to determine whether custody of the child should be removed from the parents, Felicia Banks Beemer and her husband, Cody Beemer of Warren.
They are charged with raping the child and other crimes.