MERCER, Pa. — A woman has been jailed for contempt of court in western Pennsylvania for moving to Ohio with her 12-year-old birth daughter in violation of a judge’s order in a bitter same-sex custody dispute.
Jeannette Rowan, who last lived in Oxford, Ohio, was jailed Wednesday by a Mercer County judge, reports the Sharon, Pa., Herald.
The judge had earlier barred Rowan from leaving Pennsylvania with the daughter Rowan birthed in 2001 when she and Lisa Lewis, of Sharon, were still partners.
After Rowan and Lewis broke up in 2006, Rowan allowed Lewis to visit Jaylie, but terminated the visits in 2007.
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Lewis took the case to court and was granted supervised visitation rights. Rowan appealed the decision, but it was upheld.
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Rowan had moved to Ohio with the girl in the meantime, but was tracked down last month.
The girl’s birthfather is Lewis’ nephew, Jeremy Archer, who is serving a life prison sentence for the 2005 slaying of Kristen Truchan of Shenango Township. He has not participated in the custody proceedings.
The daughter is currently living with Lewis.
