On behalf of The Marks Law Firm, L.L.C. posted in Child Custody on Thursday, April 21, 2011
Charlie Sheen and his former wife Brooke Mueller made yet another appearance in family court this week to continue their long-standing battle for custody of their twin boys, Bob and Max. Since the beginning of the year, Sheen and Mueller have each garnered a lot of public attention by attempting to defame one another and prove their own superiority as a parent and role model.
This week, Mueller won a major victory in the ongoing war when a family law judge reject Sheen’s claim that primary child custody of the twins should be returned to him. The judge ruled that the ex-couple will maintain their current custody agreement, including the $55,000 dollars in child support that Sheen is required to pay Mueller every month.
Observers believe that the factor which tipped the scales in Mueller’s favor was Sheen’s history of violent behavior. Sheen was accused of attacking a former girlfriend in the late 1990s and has supposedly issued several extreme verbal threats to Mueller, even threatening her with a knife in 2009.
According to Mueller’s court documents, Sheen told her that he would “cut off her head” if she challenged his custody rights and repeatedly threatened her with other acts of physical violence.
Yet, both parents are proven substance abusers who have spent a significant amount of time in drug or alcohol rehabilitation. Although Mueller and Sheen both claim to be addressing their addictions and on a path to sobriety, their history of substance abuse will surely play a major role in the custody decision.
Family law courts in Missouri are charged with protecting the best interests of the children during a divorce proceeding. This case shows just how complicated it can be to determine which parent is a more suitable caretaker for their children.
Source: ABC, “Charlie Sheen Loses Custody Battle: Report.” Sheila Marikar and Kristin Buettner, 19 April 2011.