Stand-off children's mother shuns protesters
The mother of six children who refused to leave their Idaho home during a five-day stalemate with police said she does not want her case to become a political cause.
After a brief custody hearing yesterday at Bonner County Courthouse, Joanne McGuckin urged about two dozen people protesting outside to go home. She also asked supporters not to raise money for her.
‘‘I do not belong to any political organisation of any kind,’’ she said in a statement. ‘‘I am one of the original north Idaho independents. We just do our own thing.’’
Prosecutor Phil Robinson and defence lawyer Sara Seaborg said McGuckin could be released as early as Thursday from a jail where she is being held on a child neglect charge.
They also said negotiations are under way to resolve the custody dispute and the charge.
McGuckin has refused to leave the jail unless she is granted custody of the children, aged eight to 16. State officials have temporarily placed them with family friends.
Sheriff’s deputies arrested McGuckin on May 29 and tried to take the children into custody at their home, believing they were malnourished, cold and living in unhealthy conditions.
McGuckin’s husband and the children’s father, Michael McGuckin, died on May 12 at the age of 61.
But the children released more than two dozen dogs and refused to leave the house, where they had several guns.
One child surrendered during the stalemate, and the other five gave up when authorities promised to try to keep the family together.
Robinson has said the house was filthy with faeces and rotting food. He said he hoped the children and their mother would eventually live together in a suitable home.
‘‘Hopefully the family can function together,’’ Robinson said. ‘‘We don’t want to raise six kids.’’
Protesters outside the Sandpoint courthouse yesterday vowed to remain despite McGuckin’s statement.
‘‘She’s a political prisoner,’’ said Leonard Browning of Spirit Lake. ‘‘Her life has been taken from her without due process of law.
"People feel threatened by oppressive Government workers that have the appearance of justice, but sport swastikas in their minds and jackboots on their feet.’’
