Court Returns Overweight N.C. Boy to Mother

Columbus, NC (TLS). The overweight North Carolina boy who was seized by the Department of Social Services has been returned to the physical custody of his mother by the order of the Court.

Joyce Painter had her day in Court today to request that her son be returned to her after DSS officials seized the boy last week and placed him in foster care.

The ongoing dispute between Painter and DSS began when Social Workers, operating on an anonymous tip, began investigating the Painter home concerning the boy's eating habits. At one point the 7-year-old boy weighed 254 pounds.

The dispute was brought to a head last week when Social Workers insisted that the boy needed knee surgery and should be taken to Duke University. Painter maintained that doctors closer to home could perform any procedure that was needed.

At this point DSS seized the boy, removed him from his Mother, and placed him in foster care.

The outrage of citizens over this gross misuse of government power must have reached the ears of the Judge in this case, who promptly slammed the tactics of DSS by returning the boy to his Mother. Although DSS still has legal custody of the boy, he will remain in his Mother's care until a hearing in June to determine permanent legal custody.

It is The Liberty Sphere's opinion that this is only the first step in what the Court should do. DSS should be investigated for the gross misuse of power and overstepping their legal and ethical boundaries in removing a child from his Mother for no overwhelmingly pressing reason.

In fact, it appears that Social Workers in the Polk County Department of DSS are punishing Mrs. Painter for daring to defy their omniscient, omnipotent decisions concerning her son. They had threatened to remove the child months ago due to 'obesity.' Apparently they were met with resistance over that one, so they seized upon the surgery ruse to justify removing the child from his Mother.

The fact that this case has produced outrage among local citizens in Polk County is significant. The Judge slapped DSS on the wrist today by returning the boy to his Mother. But he needs to go much further.

Until DSS is fully investigated, it will operate under a dark cloud of corruption, misuse of power, gestapo tactics, and bullying.