JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Lonzie Barton's mother was back in court Wednesday fighting for custody of her 5-year-old daughter.
The little girl was with her brother the night he disappeared. She remains in her grandmother’s care for now.
Wednesday’s custody hearing comes a week after Lonna Lauramore Barton was in a courtroom two floors up from Wednesday’s hearing for her arraignment on charges of child neglect and lying to police.
She’s accused of leaving Lonzie and her daughter with her boyfriend, Ruben Ebron, the only suspect in Lonzie’s disappearance, while she went to work at Wacko’s Gentleman’s Club. Twenty-one-month old Lonzie has been missing since July 24.
Action News Jax asked Lauramore Barton’s attorney, Joshua Goldsborough, how he’s going to prove she’s a fit mother when police say she took her children along on drug deals.
“Dependency’s purpose is not to punish parents. The purpose is to help parents, to rehabilitate parents,” said Goldsborough.
The judge required both Lauramore Barton and her husband, Chris Barton, who was also in Wednesday’s custody hearing, to take drug tests immediately after the hearing.
Latest News Headlines from Action News
Both will have to undergo substance abuse and parental fitness evaluations before their next hearing on Oct. 28. Chris Barton has his own attorney, Wes Cassano.
The husband and wife did not make eye contact or speak to each other as they were standing side by side in court Wednesday.
Cassano said it’s typical to get separate attorneys for the mother and father in these cases in case “their interests don’t coincide” down the line.
Cassano would not answer Action News Jax’s questions about whether the two ever visit their daughter together.
Both attorneys confirm their clients visit the 5-year-old at least three times a week for an hour and a half.
“Visitation with Ms. Barton and her child is going well,” said Goldsborough.
Goldsborough would not confirm whether the court would require Lauramore Barton to stop dancing at gentlemen’s clubs before she can get her daughter back.
“I’m not at this point ready to talk about that,” said Goldsborough.
The state said in court the 5-year-old is seeing a therapist, but her biggest concern right now is what costume to wear for Halloween.
The next custody hearing is scheduled for Oct. 28 after they have both received a mental health evaluation.
For Action News on the go, sign up for Action News Mobile & Email alerts
WJAX
