Tom Padgett's Child Custody Case

Padgett Litigation Update 27

From: A.B.U.S.E.    P.O. Box 884, Harwich, MA 02645    (425) 795-8518

PADGETT LITIGATION UPDATE 27

TOM PADGETT WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON!

On Monday, September 11th, Public Advocate for the Commonwealth of
Kentucky and legal counsel for the defendant in case # 98-CR-067, Mike
Ruschell, presented exculpatory evidence in the Hopkins County Court
that proved Padgett was innocent of recent charges against him by his
scientologist ex-wife.  Investigations into the handling of child
support checks for Kentucky Support Collection Unit in Lexington found
that while the checks had cleared the bank a while ago, they were
(mysteriously) missing as a result of an error from a processing clerk
with the Cabinet for Families & Children in Frankfort, KY.  Padgett's
family and friends in Massachusetts believe this was deliberate and a
result of covert tampering - a complete set - up job.

The judge and local prosecutor did not show one ounce of remorse or
extend any apologies to Padgett for their roles in wrongfully
imprisoning him for the past 35 days.  Instead they still proceeded
forward to quiet backroom efforts in Judge's chambers to have Padgett
sign documents and various pieces of paper including promises not to
appeal any pending civil court matters to higher courts.  Tom refused
to sign these under the threat of coercion, as they replete with
falsehoods and misleading statements as well as they were replete with
constitutional rights.  Padgett was sent back to solitary confinement
cell for the evening to "think about it."  The cell had no bed,
blankets, or toilet paper.  He was only given a 3' X 6' thin plastic
mat to sit or sleep on.

The next day Tuesday, September 12th, Padgett was brought back to a
grand jury room where more efforts were made to have him sign
agreements drafted by Laura Padgett's private civil attorney.  Tom
couldn't nor would not sign them as worded.  He was marched out in
court handcuffed in a striped jail uniform and stood before the bench.
The judge ruled they could no longer retain him in custody because of
the new evidence alleged to be "just a simple mix up!"  However, it
was ordered that yet another evidentiary hearing was scheduled on
October 2, 2000 to decide if a felony label shall remain with Padgett
the remainder of his life, or if the charges should be reduced to a
misdemeanor plea and dismissed and expunged from the record.
Padgett's family members and friends back in Cape Cod, MA, collected
enough money to "pre-pay" all child support until his son reached 18
years old and graduated from high school whereby the Scientologist
mother could never again abuse the child support laws to "fair game"
her declared SP enemy ex-husband.  
 [text deleted] Tom's comments on these recent events are best
expressed in his response letter to the Cape Cod Times defending
further attacks from O.S.A. operative Frank Ofman (see attached.)
Padgett's attorney brother John sees this all as malicious
prosecutorial misconduct down in W. Kentucky.

CONTACTS: Atty John F. Padgett (508) 255-0878
		Atty James M. Ruschell (270) 824-7001

Tom is at a small motel (270) 821-8700 Rm #122  in Madisonville for a few
more days but without access to a computer. Feel free to call him. I'm
certain he would welcome some friendly voices.

Tom says to everyone on ARS "thanks for all of your support and friendship
during these dark times"  also,  "please relay this info to Rod, Arnie, and
Mikey G. ASAP who all have been very supportive."


Bob Minton
in Occupied Clearwater