Attorney charged in Jennifer Dulos case loses custody of his kids

Attorney Kent Douglas Mawhinney is arraigned on conspiracy to commit murder charges in Stamford Superior Court Wednesday, January 8, 2020, in Stamford, Conn. Attorney Kent Douglas Mawhinney is arraigned on conspiracy to commit murder charges in Stamford Superior Court Wednesday, January 8, 2020, in Stamford, Conn. Photo: Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media Buy photo Photo: Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 210 Caption Close Attorney charged in Jennifer Dulos case loses custody of his kids 1 / 210 Back to Gallery

The ex-wife of the Bloomfield attorney who was charged in connection with the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos was granted sole custody of their twin sons earlier this week after she told a judge her children are “embarrassed and afraid” of her ex-husband, according to the Hartford Courant.

Kent Mawhinney was charged on Jan. 7 with conspiracy to commit murder. The charges came after authorities spent more than seven months investigating the disappearance of New Canaan mother Jennifer Dulos — who was reported missing May 24.

He has not posted bail for these charges.

Also charged earlier this month were the woman’s estranged husband, 52-year-old Fotis Dulos, and his ex-girlfriend, 45-year-old Michelle Troconis.

Dulos was charged with capital murder, murder and kidnapping while Troconis faces a conspiracy to commit murder charge. Fotis Dulos and Troconis were previously charged with tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution in the case.

Warrants for the trio accused Mawhinney of helping Fotis Dulos cover up the killing of his estranged wife.

The Courant reported that Mawhinney’s ex-wife — Monica Mawhinney — filed a motion in court earlier this month after Mawhinney’s arrest to get sole custody of their 15-year-old twins.

“My children have been emotionally devastated from this experience,” Monica Mawhinney wrote, according to the Courant. “They cannot go to school or go to sports practice without being afraid of what they will hear or see about their father. They are significantly disappointed, embarrassed and afraid of their father at this time.”

Monica Mawhinney also asked the court, according to the Courant, to bar her ex-husband from having contact with the children.

“Having exposure to their father — in person or via text, email or phone call is not in their best interests at this time,” Monica Mawhinney wrote, the Courant reported.

Superior Court Judge Susan Ann Connors granted Monica Mawhinney sole custody earlier this week. Mawhinney was also ordered not to have contact with his children without his ex-wife’s consent or an order from the court, according to the Courant.

The couple divorced in 2010. They have three children, but their older daughter is of legal age. She is not covered by the court order.

This was just the latest hit for Mawhinney in recent weeks.

Last week, under a motion filed by Brian Staines, of the state’s Chief Disciplinary Counsel, the law license of attorney Kent Mawhinney would be temporarily suspended and another attorney would be appointed as a trustee for his clients while the criminal case is pending.

A hearing will be held on the license suspension on Jan. 28 in state Superior Court in Hartford.