DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Man jailed, because his daughter didn't get GED

CINCINNATI (AP) - A man ordered by a judge to make sure his daughter hit the books has found himself in jail because she failed to earn a high school equivalency diploma.

Brian Gegner, of Fairfield, was sentenced last week to 180 days in jail for contributing to the unruliness or delinquency of a minor.

He was ordered months ago to make sure his 18-year-old daughter Brittany Gegner, who has a history of truancy, received her GED - something that hasn't happened yet.

Brittany Gegner, who said Monday that she plans to take a required GED test this month, said her father shouldn't be blamed for her failure because she has been living with her mother.

"It was my wrongdoing, not his," said Brittany Gegner, whose fiance and 18-month-old daughter also live at her mother's home in nearby Hamilton. "He shouldn't have to go to jail for something I did."

Her mother agrees.

"Brittany is almost 19 years old now and I think it's unfair to put her father in jail," said Shana Roach. "She's an adult now, and it's not right to rip an innocent man from his home."

Butler County Juvenile Court administrator Rob Clevenger Jr. said Monday that the court still has jurisdiction in the case because Brittany Gegner was a juvenile when the truancy problems began and when the charge against Brian Gegner was filed in 2007.

A hearing on a motion filed by Brian Gegner's attorney to reconsider the sentence is scheduled for Friday. Messages seeking comment were not returned Monday at the offices of defense attorney Tamara Sack and the Butler County prosecutor.

Brian Gegner's wife, Stephanie Gegner, said she and her husband are afraid he will lose his job if he remains in jail. She said they tried to keep his daughter in school.

"You'd take her to school and she'd go out the other door," Stephanie Gegner said.

Ok, so Dad is paying the price because his ADULT-aged daughter didn't get a GED??? That's just stupid. If she was 16-17, I could see one of the parents being charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. However, they've charged the wrong parent anyway. Dad is the non-custodial parent here. Mom, if either parent, should be the one held accountable. However, the child in question is over the age of 18 and therefore cannot be compelled to get her GED or anything. She's legally considered an adult and legally-speaking able to make her own decisions.

Way to show today's youth to take responsibility for their own actions. I wonder what Ballpeen feels about this

I'm mixed on this. I work in the juvenile justice system and perhaps if the juvenile court actually had some control on the parents, it could easily help. However, I'm not sure how much say that the father had in this case and how much of this was really his fault, especially since she is 18.

This guy goes to jail when his adult daughter doesn't get her GED, yet that idiot in Cleveland who has been arrested 36 times before is allowed to walk the streets. Like I have been saying for years. We are going to hell in a handbasket

So why is the kid living with the mother?

If the dad is ordered to oversee the kid's attendance at school why does he allow her to live away from him?

He at least should have advised the judge that the child would not live with him therefore the order should have been vacated or reissued in Mom's name.

Ralphie, maybe you didn't see the part that says that she is almost 19 years old now.

Yeah, well, he was ordered to do this when she was 18 - that's an adult as well.

What kind of judge would order this, then follow through with putting the father in jail because the adult child didn't get her ged?

This gets tossed, and the judge should be sued - it won't happen, I know, but it should.

But once she turned 18 the Dad can't make her do crap.

I understand, it seems like a goofy ruling....which is why I tend to think there is something else a little deeper that article doesn't present. :shrug:

Nice cut and paste job Ralphie, ya missed something.

Quote:

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Butler County Juvenile Court administrator Rob Clevenger Jr. said Monday that the court still has jurisdiction in the case because Brittany Gegner was a juvenile when the truancy problems began and when the charge against Brian Gegner was filed in 2007.

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How convenient of you to leave out the part that SAID SHE WAS A MINOR when the charges were brought against her and her father.

I think you and Ralphie are fighting the same side of this age issue. Why the friendly fire.?

semantics