HAYLEE DONATHAN - 3 yo - Crestline OH

Haylee Donathan, the missing 4-year-old who was discovered at a San Diego, Calif. Christian ranch on June 23, has returned to Ohio.After
Haylee disappeared with her mother, Candace Watson, 24, and convicted
sex offender Robbi Potter, 27, on May 28, a nationwide manhunt ensued.

Potter was convicted and served time for two counts of sexual battery
on children, ages 7 and 9.Haylee’s father, James Donathan, is in jail charged with helping Potter escape a halfway house.Haylee was staying at the Polinsky Children’s Center in San Diego since she was found. Mary Watson, Haylee’s grandmother, was given temporary emergency custody of the girl on June 19 to facilitate the issuance of an Amber Alert—which ultimately helped find Haylee.On
Thursday, attorneys attended a hearing before Juvenile Court Judge Ron
Spon, who will ultimately determine if Haylee was neglected or abused
as alleged by Children Services.Children Services filed a
complaint against Haylee’s mother, father, and grandmother, but
attorneys for each party deny claims of abuse and neglect.Officials
at Children Services also requested there be no contact between Haylee
and her grandmother who had been speaking with her by phone three to
four times a day. Mary Watson’s attorney, Heather Cockley said, “We
haven’t had any visitation. The child is upset because she thinks that
her grandmother has stopped calling her.”Mary Watson was granted visitation, but only if it is supervised.Two
of Mary Watson’s children have been in trouble with the law. Candace
Watson faces possible prison time for assisting Potter’s escape from a
halfway house and for harboring a fugitive. Her brother Cyle Watson is serving eight years in prison for a probation violation and has a prior conviction for the rape of a 12-year-old girl.

The pretrial hearing for custody of Haylee Donathan has been
scheduled for Monday at 2:30 p.m. in Richland County Juvenile Court,
according to court administrator Michael A. Casto.Now in foster
care, the 4-year-old is the daughter of Candace Watson, 25, who was
indicted last week along with boyfriend Robbi Potter, 27, in connection
with an alleged escape from a local sex offender halfway house that led to a month-long, cross-county manhunt and national headlines.Judge
Ron Spon ordered the preadjudication hearing, with a trial to follow in
three weeks. He must determine if Haylee is dependent, neglected or
abused, as Richland County Children Services alleges in a complaint the
agency filed against the girl's mother and father as well as her
grandmother, Mary Watson, who disputes the claim."She is ready, willing and able to have this child in her home," Watson's attorney Heather Cockley said.James
Donathan, Haylee's father, is in Richland County Jail, accused of
helping Potter escape from the Mansfield Volunteers of America.

A convicted sex
offender who was the target of a nationwide manhunt in May and June has
been charged with a federal crime under the Adam Walsh Act.
Robbie Potter, 27, appeared in U.S. District Court in Youngstown
Thursday and was indicted under the act where the federal government
intervenes when a sex offender crosses state lines. Potter was in the
company of Haylee Donathan, 4, and her mother Candace Watson, 25, when
he fled from a Mansfield halfway house and was later captured near San
Diego, California.
If convicted, Potter faces up to 10 years in prison and also faces
an additional two years behind bars for a probation violation for a
2002 bank robbery in Tennessee. Potter also faces third-degree felony
counts of escape and failure to notify of a change of address, with
both charges carrying five-year prison terms.
Another hearing for Potter is set for 11 a.m., September 18 in federal court.

A trial is scheduled to determine who will win custody of Haylee Donathan.

The 4-year-old, living in foster care, is the daughter of Candace
Watson, 25. The Crestline woman was indicted two weeks ago along with
boyfriend Robbi Potter, 27, in connection with an alleged escape from a
local sex offender halfway house. That incident led to a month-long,
cross-country manhunt and national headlines. Haylee traveled with the
couple and was taken into protective custody in San Diego upon their capture in June.Watson was in Richland County Juvenile Court on Monday.Lawyers
representing Richland County Children Services and the family agreed to
another pretrial hearing to go over witness lists Sept. 8, and agreed
to trial dates of Sept. 10 and 11.Court administrator Michael
Casto said because several relatives had come forward to seek Haylee's
custody, the proceedings might become complicated."We want to get the consensus between the agency and the family," he said.Candace
Watson, Haylee's grandmother Mary Watson and at least one other
relative have submitted claims seeking custody to Judge Ron Spon. The
judge will determine if Haylee is dependent, neglected or abused, as
Richland County Children Services alleges in a complaint.James
Donathan, Haylee's father, is in Richland County Jail, accused of
helping Potter escape from the Mansfield Volunteers of America.

Haylee Donathan's father could be out of prison in nine months.
James Donathan, 24, whose last known address was 290 N. Main St.,
was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison for complicity to escape
for his role in helping sex offender Robbi Potter flee a Volunteers of
America halfway house.Richland County Common Pleas Judge James DeWeese told Donathan he could apply for early release if he stayed out of trouble.Donathan
pleaded guilty Monday. He procured a telephone for Potter and acted as
lookout for a vehicle that was to help him escape.Potter's flight led to a monthlong, nationwide manhunt for him, Candace Watson and Watson's 4-year-old daughter, Haylee.Watson,
25, who has no listed address but previously lived in Crestline,
pleaded guilty Monday to complicity to escape. She could receive up to
five years in prison for the third-degree felony at her Oct. 19
sentencing. Watson has been in custody since June 23, when she and
Potter were arrested at a Christian retreat center near San Diego.Potter was previously convicted of two counts of sexual battery involving 7- and 9-year-old victims."I'm just ready to get this done and over with," Donathan told DeWeese, adding he hoped to reunite with his family.Donathan worked out a plea agreement Monday and was released on bond until sentencing."I think he's on the right track here," defense attorney James TyRee said.First Assistant Prosecutor Brent Robinson declined to address the court.Donathan,
wearing a T-shirt and sporting multiple tattoos on both arms, appeared
in court with his mother Connie and Mary Watson, Candace's mother.Connie Donathan told her son she loved him as an officer led him away in handcuffs.After the hearing, she disputed her son's involvement in Potter's escape."I
don't believe it was a deliberate act," Connie Donathan said. "He did
not knowingly have any knowledge that this was happening. It fell into
his lap when he opened his door."Donathan said she would support her son no matter what."That's
my baby. Love goes deep," Connie said. "Good, bad, right or wrong, he's
mine. Public opinion doesn't matter 'cause it's our family and we're
going to do whatever we can to keep it together."Connie Donathan
and Mary Watson predicted their children, who have dated off-and-on for
nine years, will get married despite Candace's previous relationship
with Potter.

In denying a motion to close his courtroom, Richland County Juvenile
Court Judge Ron Spon said Friday it's vital the public know how the
legal process works.
Children Services asked the judge to exclude media from hearings
involving the custody of Haylee Donathan, a move opposed by the News
Journal.After attorneys for the newspaper and the agency failed
to reach a compromise in two hours of conferences, Spon listened to
oral arguments in open session and then ruled the hearings will remain
open."To close these proceedings would tend to detract from confidence that the public might have in the judicial branch of government," the judge said. "It is very important in a free society for citizens to know what we do."Children
Services attorney Edith Gilliland argued there was potential for harm
if the media continued to use Haylee's name and picture, as well as
potential sensitive evidence that may come during the hearing."There
was a time for this child where it was necessary to have her
identified," Gilliland said. "She was missing. It was important that
people knew who she was."That time has passed. The need for that continued identification no longer exists."Four-year-old
Haylee was the subject of a month-long nationwide manhunt when her
mother ran off with a sex offender who walked away from the local
Volunteers of America halfway house in late May. Candace Watson, 25,
who has no known address but previously lived in Crestline, will be
sentenced Oct. 12 for complicity to escape. She could receive up to
five years in prison.Representing the News Journal, attorney William Kolis cited the Ohio Supreme Court,
which ruled a custody case can be closed only if public access could
harm the child or endanger the fairness of the proceeding or if the
potential for harm outweighs the benefits of public access.Gilliland did not provide any evidence to support her claims at Friday's hearing."Statements
that have been made are simply emotional arguments," Kolis said. "No
evidence has been submitted to show that any harm would happen."Spon agreed."We
have a major problem. No evidence has been presented," Spon said. "The
court cannot base its decision by making a judgment when no evidence
has been presented. If the court were to make such a ruling, it would
be overturned as an abuse of discretion."Gilliland declined comment afterward. It's not known if the agency will appeal the judge's decision.Spon
will decide who gets custody of Haylee after her trial, which he
scheduled for Nov. 16. He said people who might find themselves in
similar situations need to know how the court handles such a case."In the final analysis, justice for the one is an indicator of whether there will be justice for many," Spon said.Several
people are seeking custody of Haylee. In addition to her mother and
father, James Donathan, maternal grandmother Mary Watson and paternal
grandmother Connie Donathan want custody of the girl. Others interested
in custody are Ken and Loretta Means, who live in Mansfield and are
Mary Watson's cousins, and Steve and Susan Janoski, of Virginia. Steve
Janoski said his wife is Mary Watson's stepsister, a claim Mary Watson
disputes.The foster family is another option to become permanent custodians.

The sex offender who walked away from a local halfway house and went
across the country with a 5-year-old girl and her mother vows to change.
Robbi Potter appeared contrite Wednesday when Richland County Common
Pleas Judge James DeWeese sentenced him to three years in prison for
escape and failure to provide change of address information."I'm done. This is it for me, sir," Potter told the judge.Potter,
27, pleaded guilty. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors agreed to
recommend a three-year sentence. Potter could have gotten up to 10
years.Potter left the Volunteers of America in Mansfield on May
28 and wound up in San Diego with Candace Watson and her daughter,
Haylee Donathan. They were the subjects of a monthlong nationwide
manhunt.Authorities were concerned about Haylee's welfare
because Potter has previous convictions for two counts of sexual
battery involving 7- and 9-year-old victims.Potter appeared in a
red-and-white county jail jumpsuit -- to indicate he is a
maximum-security inmate -- and flip-flops. He took responsibility for
the events that made national news."I've made a huge mess, a
terrible decision," Potter said. "I've been throwing my life away for
years, as you can see by my record."Now I've brought other people into it. My family doesn't want nothing to do with me."Potter made a promise to DeWeese."If
you agree to the recommended sentence, I will take it with honor," he
said. "I will take those three years and I will change."DeWeese told him life is all about choices and consequences.After the hearing, defense attorney Steve Cockley explained the plea decision."He
just wanted to get it over with. He's willing to take responsibility
and move on," Cockley said. "He's not a bad kid -- he made a bad
decision."Federal authorities also charged Potter through the
Adam Walsh Act, designed to punish sex offenders who cross state lines
and fail to register. First Assistant Prosecutor Brent Robinson said
the federal government likely would not pursue that charge, since the
state went forward with its case."It's one of their internal policies," Robinson said.Two
of Potter's co-defendants have pleaded guilty, both to complicity to
escape. Watson, 25, formerly of Crestline, and James Donathan, 24, were
sentenced this fall to three years in prison. Both can apply for early
release if they stay out of trouble.Nicole Kirkpatrick, 21, pleaded no contest to the same charge earlier this month. She applied for the diversion program.The
only related case still pending is that of Cyle Watson, 21, also
charged with complicity to escape. He was sentenced this summer to
eight years for a probation violation unrelated to the Haylee Donathan
case.Haylee has been in foster care since she returned from San
Diego in July. This week, her parents agreed to allow Children Services
to have temporary custody of her.

MANSFIELD, Ohio — The custody of a 5-year-old girl who sparked a national manhunt last summer was granted Monday
to her foster parents, 10TV News reported.
The girl was taken in June by a registered sex offender who had
escaped from a halfway house.
Both of the girl's parents are in jail for aiding in the man's escape, 10TV News reported.
A Richland County judge terminated the parental rights of the girl and granted custody to
children's services.
The girl's maternal grandmother also fought for custody but was denied after being indicted on
drug trafficking charges.
"Never again will this child ever be exposed to any extended family whose actions or inactions
could negatively bear on the emotional well being of this child," said Judge Ron Spon.
The girl will remain with her foster family who plan to pursue adoption.