A Navy submariner recently found himself in a rather sticky wicket. He's been ordered to appear in court next week for a custody hearing about his daughter. But in all likelihood, he won't be able to make it--because he's out in the Pacific.
Navy submariner Matthew Hindes is stationed on a submarine in the Pacific. But he’s been ordered to appear in a Michigan courtroom Monday in a custody battle with his ex-wife Angela involving their daughter, Kaylee.
Hindes was given permanent custody of Kaylee in 2010, after she was reportedly removed from Angela’s home by child protective services. Kaylee has been living with Hindes’ wife Benita-Lynn – her step-mother – in Washington state while Hindes is deployed aboard a nuclear submarine in the Pacific Ocean.
Despite Hindes’ assignment, a judge has ordered Hindes to appear in court or face contempt.
From the looks of it, Hindes should be protected by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which allows a judge to grant active-duty servicemen a minimum 90-day stay for any civil proceeding. But Lewanee County circuit judge Margaret Noe refused to grant one, and refused to allow Hindes to appear via Skype or phone. As a result, Hindes may not only lose custody of Kaylee, but may not get the chance to say goodbye. To put it mildly, this is a travesty.
The Hindes family has started a Facebook page to publicize their cause, "Justice for the Hindes Family." They've also started a petition asking their local congressman, Tim Walberg, to intervene. Sign here.