Man Jailed After Daughter Fails To Get GED - Ohio

[Tess Anderson]

And she's eighteen now.

Fairfield man is in jail because his daughter hasn't gotten her General Equivalency Diploma (GED).

A judge ordered the father to stay on top of his daughter's education months ago and when that order wasn't followed, Brian Gegner was sentenced to 180-days in the Butler County jail.

The daughter, Brittany Gegner, says her father shouldn't be punished for her problems.

Especially, she says because she's now 18, an adult.

"It's ridiculously wrong," said Brittany Gegner.

"Of all the punishments they could have given him, to make him go to jail?," she asked. "I mean, probation – until I get my GED – would be reasonable, but to send him to jail? That's overboard."

Butler County Juvenile Court Judge David Niehaus ordered Gegner to jail for contributing to the delinquency of a minor by not following a court order which required Gegner to be sure his daughter got her GED.

This comes after ongoing problems of Brittany skipping classes at Fairfield High School and then, Butler Tech.

While Brian Gegner had custody of her, Brittany says it was while she lived with her mother that she was truant.

"I'm about to be 19 and my Dad's being punished for something I did when I was 16," she said.

"It's like I should, if anybody should be punished for this," said Brittany. "I would way rather me go to jail than my Dad."

full article: link

The judge in this case is no stranger to controversy or having his rulings overturned.

[djones520]

Wow...  thats a bit on the extreme side.

[Chris_]

I agree with the girl.

They need to put HER in jail.

[morningAngel]

I am so screwed 

[rich_t]

Y'all got enough gubment in your lives yet?

This is pathetic.

[rich_t]

I agree with the girl.

They need to put HER in jail.

Jail her for what?  There is NO law that requires one to have a HS diploma or a GED.

[djones520]

I agree with the girl.

They need to put HER in jail.

Jail her for what?  There is NO law that requires one to have a HS diploma or a GED.

My thoughts exactly.

[rich_t]

I agree with the girl.

They need to put HER in jail.

Jail her for what?  There is NO law that requires one to have a HS diploma or a GED.

My thoughts exactly.

I wonder how can a parent be jailed for failing to accomplish that which is NOT a legal requirment?

[Chris_]

I believe truancy is a misdemeanor.

[Baruch Menachem]

But wasn't the truancy thing a problem while she was living with her mom?

[rich_t]

But wasn't the truancy thing a problem while she was living with her mom?

That doesn't matter.

There is no LEGAL requirment for any US citizen to have a HS diploma or a GED.

[RobJohnson]

The judge made a court order....that order stands unless there is an appeal.

[rich_t]

The judge made a court order....that order stands unless there is an appeal.

And you are OK with that?  Do you think it was a "just" ruling?

We have had judges rule that owning slaves was OK too.

Were they right in such rulings?

[RobJohnson]

I did not say it was just.

I am just saying, it's the law, for this person, due to the judge's rule.

I know a judge that put "no pre-marital sex" in a ruling for a young man once....he quickly rec'd national attention. The judge is now retired from both the bench and the Marines.

[rich_t]

I did not say it was just.

I am just saying, it's the law, for this person, due to the judge's rule.

And I am still asking.

[RobJohnson]

I think you would need more info then what the media is reporting before you could comment.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Jail her for what?  There is NO law that requires one to have a HS diploma or a GED.

Exactly, which makes your complaint about "gubmint" unfounded as this is the act of an individual, not a government.

The judge made a court order....that order stands unless there is an appeal.

Based on what law? The judiciary and legislature are seperate branches for a reason.

[JohnnyReb]

Two things

1-DUmmies shifting the blame and ....

2-Job security for lawyers and Judges..

[jtyangel]

I agree with the girl.

They need to put HER in jail.

For skipping school? She'll get her own consequences soon enough met out by life. That said, jail for a child with issues is extreme. I would expect this ruling to be overturned.

[jtyangel]

But wasn't the truancy thing a problem while she was living with her mom?

That doesn't matter.

There is no LEGAL requirment for any US citizen to have a HS diploma or a GED.

I'm not sure the laws in this state, but I know in Florida when I was a teenager a child could withdraw themselves at the age of 16 without their parents permission. There is no truancy if you are no longer attended and the child is capable of doing that themselves before the age of 18 so why her dad would be hit with anything is beyond me. This young lady could have withdrawn herself at the age of 16 if the laws are similar here as they were there several years ago.

[rich_t]

Jail her for what?  There is NO law that requires one to have a HS diploma or a GED.

Exactly, which makes your complaint about "gubmint" unfounded as this is the act of an individual, not a government.

The judge was acting in his official government position. 

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Jail her for what?  There is NO law that requires one to have a HS diploma or a GED.

Exactly, which makes your complaint about "gubmint" unfounded as this is the act of an individual, not a government.

The judge was acting in his official government position. 

No, he was acting outside his authority.

If you catch your wife in bed with a neighbor she isn't acting in her official marriage position, she's operating outside of what has been established as law. Show me where judges are allowed to legislate from the bench inventing both law and punishment; not to mention imposing punishments on 3rd parties.

[RobJohnson]

Snuggies....I am not saying the judge was right....but his order stands until appeal.