Expectant Mother Fights For Custody of Unborn Child

By Christina Rentz

Published on October 05, 2005

Three years ago Melissa WolfHawk married her husband DaiShin. DaiShin WolfHawk, who was born John Joseph Letini, was convicted of the rape, attempted rape, sodomy, and attempted sodomy of two teenage girls in the early 1980s. He served ten years in a New York prison for his crimes.

WolfHawk, who says he is the chief of an American Indian tribe not recognized by the U.S. government, claims that his mistakes were more a matter of stupidity than malicious criminal behavior, even though contemporary news reports made his actions seem far worse. WolfHawk maintains he did his time and has moved on.

On Friday, Melissa filed a temporary restraining order against the Schuylkill County Department of Children and Youth Services to prevent the department from contacting her about the pregnancy. An American Civil Liberties Union representative says the child welfare department blatantly violated Melissa's constitutional right to due process.

In addition to the dispute over her unborn son, Melissa is also fighting for custody of the two and a half year old daughter she has with her husband. Melissa's daughter, who was also taken from the home because of DaiShin's past, is currently living with a foster family in Maryland.

While Melissa has succeeded in temporarily thwarting the agency's efforts, a lawyer for the child welfare agency has warned Melissa that the agency may seek custody after the baby is born.

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