That’s apparently the motto being embraced by a Marion County dad who lost custody of his four children for seemingly very good reasons.

The dad, identified only by his initials T.L., also had lost the right to visit with his kids after Marion County Circuit Judge Thomas Hart found:

The dad had a substance abuse problem that was affecting his ability to safely parent.

He committed domestic-violence against the children’s mother.

And he had solicited sex online and brought prostitutes into the family home for years.

The father appealed the judge’s decision to the Oregon Court of Appeals -- which shot down his appeal this week.

In his appeal, the dad hadn’t argued against the findings of substance abuse or domestic violence. In fact, he admitted to choking his wife, according to the appeals court’s summary of the case.

Rather, the dad argued that any prostitution in his home didn’t hurt his children. That’s because he contended that the Oregon Department of Human Services failed to prove that his children “were actually exposed to any sex acts.”

Without delving into the merits of that argument, the appeals court determined the father hadn’t “preserved” the argument in circuit court, so it wasn’t fair for him to bring it up now.

And the ruling stands.

The father, however, can appeal to the Oregon Supreme Court.

The ruling was made by a three-judge panel of the court. It included Rebecca Duncan, Robert Wollheim and Erin Lagesen.

-- Aimee Green











