Michael Volpe Investigates Podcast The Impromptu: Episode 71: An Interview with Jennifer Joslin
Jennifer took three of her sister's children- along with raising four of her own- so they wouldn't go into the system. Now, a magistrate I've made famous is threatening to jail her.
The Wicked Witch of the East is back and she’s worse than ever.
Jennifer Joslin is the latest guest on the podcast.
She has a very disturbing story of family betrayal, criminal justice malfeasance, and it involves a judge- technically a magistrate- I have helped to make famous: Caitlyn Nevin, the Wicked Witch of Ohio.
Nevin is not satisfied with putting one child- that being the son of Amanda Morris from the original story- in danger, so she is determined to put at least one more child in danger in this case.
Jennifer told me that her life changed drastically when her sister called in December 2017.
Jennifer and her sister weren’t close, so this call was a surprise.
The reason for the call was shocking. Jennifer’s sister’s fiancé, Jonathan Vales, had molested her thirteen-year-old daughter- by another father- and Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) wanted to take all three of her sister’s children and place them in the system.
Jennifer was tasked with taking care of the three kids temporarily.
This was no easy task since Jennifer has four biological children of her own.
“Initially, they {DCFS} wanted reunification,” Jennifer told me.
That was the plan until May 2018.
Jennifer’s sister was blaming her own thirteen-year-old for the rape, and this girl called The Steve Wilkos Show, demanding to be on.
Though the show would not speak with a minor, that initial call did lead to a monumental appearance. The climax is below.
The show’s climax speaks for itself, and it must be watched to be believed.
After that, Jennifer told me she pushed for permanent custody, which she got.
Meanwhile, Vales was receiving a slap on the wrist. For reasons which remain unclear, he received a plea deal, pleading guilty to two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and got a sentence of two and a half years in jail.
Jennifer’s sister was pregnant with her first child by Vales when the criminal case started, so he got out of jail when his daughter was two years old.
Remarkably, his rights were not terminated. Instead, his mother, Cassandra Thomas, received what is called “companionship time”, and she supervised him while he spent time with his very young daughter at a local library near Jennifer’s house.
That arrangement continued until Vales got in trouble with the law again.
The Cayuhoga County Prosecutor’s Office has the whole sordid history.
Vales pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor which carries a maximum sentence of 1-10 years in prison. Sentencing is a function of the court. You will have to reach out to the Court of Common Pleas regarding the sentence.
Recently, he pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, one count of gross sexual imposition, and one count of importuning. He was sentenced to 10-15 years in prison.
His rights have yet to be terminated, though, that is a problem Jennifer may still have to deal with a decade for now.
Her more immediate problem was Cassandra herself. She had a criminal record of her own.
Jennifer said when she consulted with a lawyer to understand the charge, she was told that this amounted to handling child pornography.
I left a voicemail for Cassandra, but I received no response. I also left a message with her attorney, Tyresha Brown-O’Neal, at her office, but she also did not respond.
The wicked witch of Ohio, in her infinite wisdom, changed the terms of the companionship time- a term I have never heard prior- and ordered the visits be at Cassandra’s home.
Not only does Jennifer live about forty-five minutes away from Cassandra, but she does not drive.
Most problematic for Jennifer, if visits are not supervised, then she believes her daughter is unsafe.
So, she violated the court order; Cassandra responded in kind.
As you can see from the motion above, this legal Mexican standoff has been going on for well more than a year. It still has not reached a resolution. The reason is difficult to articulate- let’s just say there have been many delays.
Per the order above, the Wicked Witch of Ohio really meant business.
“No further continuances shall be allowed,” the wicked witch could not be clearer. This order was signed on July 11, 2023, and it set a final court hearing for August 18, 2023.
No ifs, ands, or buts…except.
The August 18, 2023, hearing was also continued until September 28, 2023, at 10AM.
The last continuance came with a warning, Jennifer told me.
“Ms. Joslin, if I were you, I would try and make up these missed visits, because I can impose a jail sentence.” Jennifer remembers the Wicked Witch of Ohio telling her in court on August 18, 2023.
I spoke with Jennifer’s attorney, Carolyn Ranke. She told me that she does not expect Jennifer to go to jail, but the Wicked Witch of Ohio {my words not Ms. Ranke who was more formal} could force her to make up the dates Cassandra has lost.
Jennifer is not sure, telling me that the Wicked Witch of Ohio’s statement in court in August was abundantly clear.
Ms. Ranke told me that from the court’s perspective the crimes that Vales committed do not reflect upon Cassandra, and her own criminal conviction is old enough that it has little relevance.
As such, the court considers Cassandra fit enough for companionship time: this is the court’s argument, again, and not necessarily what Ms. Ranke believes.
Ms. Ranke also told me that Jennifer has another avenue to avoid giving Cassandra companionship time.
She could adopt the three kids. That seems natural, given she has taken care of them since 2017.
With adoption, Ms. Ranke told me that Jennifer would be considered their mom, and as such, Cassandra would legally no longer be considered the grandmother.
Even this step is fraught with potential pitfalls. First, social services require a home study to be completed before an adoption is finalized.
Jennifer told me that she already did a home study in 2017, before being approved to take the kids in the beginning, but that one is considered too old.
The home study itself is not terribly difficult. A social services worker would come into her home and inspect it to make sure that it is appropriate for the three children which have been living there for the past six years.
The problem is that it costs Jennifer $1,500 to complete this home study.
“Of course, I would need a lawyer,” Jennifer told me, another cost.
As such, it is several thousand dollars she would need to have to be able to adopt the kids; she’s raising seven kids right now: coming up with an extra $3,000-$5,000 is no easy task. Beyond the money, there is no way the process would be completed before the next hearing.
As such, she is ready to square off with the Wicked Witch of Ohio in September: unless the hearing is continued again.
