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Children tardy, mother now found guilty | LoudounTimes.com

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Childrentardy,mothernowfoundguilty
Thursday,Aug.16,2012byLauraPeters,TimesMirrorStaffWriter|4comments|Emailthisstory

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MaureenBlake,thePurcellvillemotherchargedinconnectionwithherchildrensexcessive tardieswasconvictedtodaybyaLoudounCountyCircuitCourtjudge. JudgeThomasHornefoundBlakeguiltyofthreeClass3misdemeanorcharges,oneforeach childinfailingtoassisttheschoolincomplyingtotheattendancerequirements. However,thejudgegaveBlaleachancetochangeherways.HornesuspendedBlakescharges foroneyeartoseeifsheisabletogetherchildrentoschoolontime.Otherwise,themotherwill facea$1,500fine. AccordingtoAssistantCommonwealthAttorneyJoshuaSteward,Blakewasinviolationof VirginiaCodeandtheStudentRightsandResponsibilitiesActthatsaysstudentsshouldbein schoolthesameamountofhourseachday. BlakewasrepresentedbyattorneyAlexisDowning. BlakewasservedawarrantJan.21,requiringhertoappearincourtonJan.25.Shewas releasedona$3,000bondthesameday. HerthreechildrenattendLincolnElementaryinwesternLoudoun. Accordingtocourtrecords,betweenSept.10,2011,andJan.19,2012,her7yearoldwaslate11 times,her9yearoldwaslateninetimesandher10yearoldwaslate10times. Parentsarentusuallybroughtbeforeajudgefortheirchildrenstardiness,howeverprosecutors saidBlakescasewasexcessive. Oneminutelatetoschoolcouldbechargedwith[aClass3misdemeanor],definitely.Icouldbe drivingdowntheroadandthrowagumwrapperoutthewindow,Stewardmentioned.There aremanylawsconsideredabsurdbutitsthelaw.Youhavetomakesomeefforttogetyourkid [toschool]. Blakewasfirstnotifiedoftheexcessivetardiesin2009andwaslaterbroughttocourtin2010, whereshepleadednocontestandpaid$1,850infinesforherfourchildrenoneofwhomis nowinmiddleschool. AftershewasarrestedinJanuary,herchildrenhaveonlybeenlatetwice. Blakedefendedherchildrenstardies,sayingshehasbeendiagnosedwithAttentionDeficit HyperactivityDisorder,whichaffectsherdailylife.Shewentontotellthecourtthatlastyear oneofherchildrenwasdiagnosedwithAttentionDeficitHyperactivityDisorder(ADHD).But,as ofnow,allthreeofherchildrenarediagnosedADHDandmedicated. Ihaveoutsourcedthedrivingwhichishelpfulasthedriverislesspronetomisplacethingslike glassesandkeysandpurseasIampronetodoattimes,Blakesaid. Theyrelessdefiantandlesseasilydistracted,Blakesaidofherchildrennowthattheyare medicated.Itwasdifficultforthemtounderstandthattheyneededtofocusatthetaskathand andgettoschool. Blake,whohasjointcustodyofherchildrenwithherexhusbandisresponsibleforgettingher childrentoschoolonThursdays.AccordingtoLoriMelcher,attendanceofficerforLCPS,Blakes childrenwereconstantlytardyonthatdayoftheweek. AlthoughBlakehashiredalifecoachtohelpherwithherdisabilityandbothsheandher childrenseepsychologistsandpsychiatrists,Stewardarguedherexcusesfortardiness acknowledgesherresponsibility. Thedefendantismakingexcusesforbeinglate,thereforesheisawareofbeinglate,Steward
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8/21/12

Children tardy, mother now found guilty | LoudounTimes.com

said.Ms.Blakeisclearlyawareofherresponsibility. AccordingtoMelcher,someofBlakesexcuseswereshecouldntfindaspecificskirtforher daughter,sheoverslept,thefamilyhadspilledfooditemsthatneededtobecleanedupand occasionallythechildrendidntknowwhytheywerelate. BlakeisntthefirstLoudounCountyparenttomakeheadlinesforherchildrenstardiness. June6,thecaseofMarkandAmyDenicorewasdismissedaftertheyweresummonedin FebruaryfortheirdaughterSophiesexcessivetardiestoschool.TheDenicoresthreechildren hadbeentardy85timessinceSeptember,buthadmissedlessthanthreehourseachofschool.

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Blakedefendedherchildrenstardies,sayingshehasbeendiagnosedwith AttentionDeficitHyperactivityDisorder,whicheffectsherdailylife.Shouldbe affects.

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