CA- Haylee headed to foster care upon her return

As I thought Haylee would:

7-3-2009 California:

MANSFIELD — Haylee Donathan will be placed with a foster family — not with her grandmother — when she returns from California.

The 4-year-old has been at the Polinsky Children’s Center in San Diego since June 23, when her mother, Candace Watson, and her mother’s fugitive sex offender boyfriend, Robbi Potter, were arrested.

Polinsky Children’s Center is a 24-hour facility for the temporary emergency shelter of children who must be separated from their families for their own safety or when parents cannot provide care.

Potter, 27, and Watson, 24, were the subjects of a month-long nationwide manhunt. Potter was sentenced in 2006 to three years in prison for two counts of sexual battery involving 7- and 9-year-old victims. He was arrested on a state warrant for a parole violation and on a federal warrant for a probation violation.

Watson was charged with complicity to escape. Last week, she also was charged with harboring a federal fugitive. Both Potter and Watson await extradition.

Mary Watson, Haylee’s grandmother, was granted emergency custody on June 19.

Richland County Children Services since has gotten involved in the case.

“We are currently coordinating Haylee’s return with San Diego County,” said Edith Gilliland, an attorney for Children Services. “She will be placed with a foster family in order for her to be in a safe environment at this time.”

Gilliland said she didn’t know when Haylee would be back. She declined further comment.

Local attorneys Charles Lynch and Heather Cockley took Mary Watson’s case pro bono to help her get emergency custody.

“This case is sort of in two parts,” Cockley said. “The first part is the filing of the emergency custody to get the Missing Child Alert. The second part is determining what’s in the best interest of the child now that she’s been found.

“Richland County Juvenile Court has assumed jurisdiction of the case. They’ll be determining what’s in the best interest of the child.”

Cockley said she had spoken to Mary Watson, who talks to Haylee daily by phone.
“She’s just anxious to see Haylee,” Cockley said.

Two of Mary Watson’s children have been in trouble with the law.

While Candace Watson faces possible prison time, Cyle Watson, Mary’s son, was sentenced June 23 to eight years in prison for a probation violation. He previously was sentenced to three years in prison for rape and violated probation by having marijuana brought to the Volunteers of America. Cyle Watson also has a pending case for his alleged involvement in helping Potter escape the VOA. ..Source.. by MARK CAUDILL • News Journal