When Mariah married her military husband, Sean, she helped raise two children with him, as well as his young son from a previous relationship. That child, now a teenager, recently came out as transgender and asked to be called Calvin. Mariah was committed to supporting Calvin through his transition, but their lives were shattered when Calvin confided that Sean had been sexually abusing him for years. Soon after, Mariah and Sean’s daughter, Andrea, disclosed that she, too, had been a victim of her father’s abuse.
Mariah immediately reported the abuse to police. A warrant was issued, and weeks later, military police arrested Sean at the request of civilian authorities.
After Sean’s arrest, Mariah discovered that his paycheck—her family’s only source of income—was no longer being deposited into their bank account. She quickly contacted her mortgage company to ask for relief until she could find another way to provide for her family. But because Sean’s name alone was on the promissory note, the company refused to work with her. Overwhelmed and desperate to protect her children while also securing financial stability, Mariah reached out to Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) for help.
Staff Attorney Brittany Hightower, of LSLA’s Individual Safety Unit, took Mariah’s case. Hightower contacted the military to connect Mariah with an advocate who could help her secure support and benefits for herself and the children. She also drafted a power of attorney for Sean to sign, enabling her to negotiate directly with the mortgage company.
Hightower then represented Mariah in her divorce, ensuring that Mariah was awarded the family home. Afterward, Mariah’s children expressed their wish to change their last name to Mariah’s maiden name so they would no longer be tied to their abuser. Hightower assisted with those proceedings, as well as a protective order for the youngest child, ensuring Sean could not contact her. Calvin chose not to pursue legal changes at that time but was reassured he could return for help whenever he was ready.
Today, Mariah and her three children are safe. Sean was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his crimes. With LSLA’s support, Mariah has secured stability for her family and taken important steps toward healing and a future free from abuse.
*Name(s) have been changed to protect the client’s identity.
Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income populations by providing free legal education, advice, and representation. LSLA serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines, who live in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties in Southwest Arkansas. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.LoneStarLegal.org.
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