Birth dad in custody fight faces allegations
Court and police documents state birth father Matt Tenneson, 20, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, was charged with theft and has been investigated for allegations of nonforcible statutory rape.
In an interview Friday with the Deseret Morning News, Tenneson declined to comment on those issues, as advised by his attorney.
LDS Family Services, which handled the adoption, is filing an appeal to try to reverse Idaho Magistrate Robert Burton's ruling that Tenneson has some parental rights.
Idaho Magistrate Barry E. Watson later ruled Tenneson would have temporary primary custody of the baby while Birth mother Cammie Knight would have some visitation.
Knight, 19, of Coeur d'Alene, along with adoptive parents Jed and Cally Nielson, 24 and 26, of American Fork, say they are puzzled by the two rulings since Tenneson didn't declare his paternal rights before the required date.
The Nielsons' attorney received a letter from Tenneson's attorney last weekend, asking the couple to give the baby to Tenneson. But the Nielsons say they are not going to just hand over 5-month-old baby Harvey.
Cally Nielson's father, Flint Stephens, of Highland, says the family has purchased Christmas presents for the baby and they plan to celebrate the holiday together. If the baby went to Idaho for Christmas, "we'd be devastated," Stephens said.
Tenneson said Friday he is the one who is devastated since he won't have his son home with him for Christmas. "I am sad I haven't had him from the start," he added.
Tenneson said he has purchased Christmas gifts of toys, clothes and blankets for his son. "I thought I would have him long before Christmas," he said.
The Nielsons aren't happy to hear baby Harvey could be sent to Tenneson, especially in light of the allegations that have surfaced in the past few months during the court proceedings.
Kootenai County District Court clerks verified Tenneson was charged with misdemeanor petty theft in 2006.
According to an incident report from the Coeur d'Alene police, Tenneson was investigated for allegations of nonforcible statutory rape. The incident, reported Oct. 24, allegedly occurred between Jan. 28 and Feb. 5 with a 16-year-old girl, the report states.
According to Coeur d'Alene police reports, Tenneson stated during a police interview regarding the allegations that he and the girl "smoked approximately two bowls of marijuana in addition to drinking wine."
The police officer in the report stated: "Matt told me he and (the girl) had sexual intercourse. Matt told me he gave her a ride home after having sex."
Recent comments
Most of these comments must come from adoptive parents.
Just from...
Grammy | July 19, 2008 at 3:34 p.m.
To teen parents, we see he is showing us. Showing us what kind of a...
think again | Jan. 8, 2008 at 9:51 p.m.
You all need to figure it out!! I became a mom at 19 and we were not...
teen parents?! | Jan. 4, 2008 at 7:37 p.m.
- Normal fire season predicted 5:50 p.m.
- Kids coping parents' addictions 5:35 p.m.
- Utah Co. man arrest in sex assault 5:30 p.m.
- S.Salt Lake mayor vetoes funding 5:29 p.m.
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal 5:02 p.m.
- Eagle Mountain gets 5th well 4:44 p.m.
- Utah eligible for federal flu grants 4:05 p.m.
- Attempted murder case refiled 4:05 p.m.
- Cannon sued over unpaid bills 4:04 p.m.
- Women lose court bid to ski jump 4:02 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Mall owner seeks to retain zoning
- Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Letters: Palin mistreated
141 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
137 - LDS seminary principal arrested
134 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
134 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
90 - Moon landing: Let's hear from you
83 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
The Jazz will match if they can trade Boozer in the next week. If the Jazz...
We all make mastakes and I don't know what to make of all this. If Bro. P....
I had Brother Pratt as a seminary teacher and I believe that he truly is a...
Has anyone bothered to look at what this person is charged with? One of them...
for Milsap. Enjoy it...
I posted a comment earlier, but it was never published. I applaud this story...
And to think that Amy left a desk job in the Office of the First Presidency...
time to tell Seminary Teachers that they are not Counselors and stress to...
a poor mans Paul Milsap - watch out for Orlando next year. The east is up &...
Bennett is a calcified, relic, a living fossil. He broke his promise to...

