Judge accepts two no-contest pleas, schedules disposition in child-protection petition

Lenawee County Probate & Juvenile Court Judge Salih on record acknowledged service of a petition seeking removal of children and accepted no-contest pleas from two fathers, Christopher Carter and Mark Kamen, in a child-protection case. The court also scheduled an initial disposition hearing for Feb. 28 at 10:00 a.m. and discussed placement plans for the children while case services continue.

The hearing opened with the court confirming that a petition requesting removal had been filed and that no ex parte removal had been granted. Rachel Wazzyk, a CPS investigator for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), testified that she drafted the petition and described her efforts to serve the parents. "I am a CPS investigator at DHHS, and I, was assigned this case to investigate," Wazzyk said, and she told the court she filed proofs of service the prior evening showing electronic and personal service to the parents at specified times.

Why this matters: The court—s acceptance of no-contest pleas means the petition—s allegations will provide a factual basis for developing case service plans and may later be used in termination proceedings if necessary. The placement decisions and case services the court and DHHS order will…