By Joseph Snook
Investigative Reporter
Lake Charles, LA – After 2-1/2 years, 5 attorneys, and over 6 figures out of pocket, Kathleen Berry was ordered to appear for an arraignment in late January, where she must attempt to explain why she tried to feed her two children, whom she has joint custody of. On July 31, Kathleen Berry was issued a warrant for her arrest for allegedly violating RS 14:45.1 – Interference with the custody of a child. She was then arrested on August 1. All of this stemmed from Kathleen’s attempt to feed her children, as they were left alone at home by their father, who has done everything in his power to keep them away from his ex-wife, Kathleen. Local family court judge Guy Bradberry and attorney Henry Liles have also played a major role in the reported unlawful attempts to prevent Kathleen from seeing her children, Zachary and Ryan.
A. Interference with the custody of a child is the intentional taking, enticing, or decoying away of a minor child by a parent not having a right of custody, with intent to detain or conceal such child from a parent having a right of custody pursuant to a court order or from a person entrusted with the care of the child by a parent having custody pursuant to a court order.
It shall be an affirmative defense that the offender reasonably believed his actions were necessary to protect the welfare of the child.
B. Whoever commits the crime of interference with the custody of a child shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or be imprisoned for not more than six months, or both. Costs of returning a child to the jurisdiction of the court shall be assessed against any defendant convicted of a violation of this Section, as court costs are provided by the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure. Added by Acts 1981, No. 725, §1.”
Strangely enough, a warrant was not presented to Ms. Berry when she asked one of the deputies at the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office for a copy. The Family Court in Lake Charles, along with the help of Ms. Berry’s ex-husband, Michael Hebert, and his attorney, has reportedly denied her a trial for almost 2-1/2 years, obstructing Ms. Berry from raising her children. It is also reported that these same people were able to obtain a signed warrant for her arrest within 24 hours of her attempt to feed her two children, Zachary and Ryan.
A close friend of Ms. Berry had accompanied her on the afternoon of her attempt to drop off lunch for her two boys who were left home alone. Ms. Berry’s children had told her in a previous phone conversation that they had been eating toast for meals on more than one occasion, which caused her considerable concern. Kathy and her friend, who accompanied her to her ex-husband’s residence, stated that neither child opened the door to the home nor made any physical contact with their mother while she placed their lunch on the doorstep and walked away.
A reasonable person would agree that a biological mother should never be kept from her children unless there were certain circumstances which called for such a matter. During our investigation of Kathleen Berry’s case, there has been no reason to see her as an unfit mother. The US~Observer has received innumerable statements from credible sources that show the opposite beyond a doubt.
Ms. Berry has obtained letters from psychologists, “Fathers” from the Church, doctors, friends, family, and employees from an all-too-well-known place of interest, “The Whistle Stop”, stating that she is, in fact, a good mother who should have custody of her children. The Whistle Stop is a remedial facility where parents are court-ordered to see their children under supervised visitation, at a cost of $25 per hour to the parent. All of these witness statements have reportedly not been admitted into evidence to support the claim that Ms. Berry is an exemplary parent who should be allowed to raise her children and be part of their lives. Nothing can take back the time that has been purloined from Ms. Berry as she stays optimistic in her seemingly never-ending battle to reclaim her rightful custody of her children, Zachary and Ryan Hebert.
In closing, Ms. Kathleen Berry asks that the Calcasieu Parish Family Courts give her what is entitled to her under Louisiana Law: a full, fair, and honest trial so that she can reclaim what priceless time she has already lost and begin to build a relationship with her children, which she rightfully deserves.
Editor’s Note: If you have information about Judge Guy Bradberry or anyone who is unjust in the Lake Charles Family Courts, please contact Joseph Snook at 916-342-0132 or email joe@usobserver.com.
