Parents fighting neglect charges

Saturday, July 17, 2010
Corbin Farley and his mother Gloria

GREENCASTLE -- For the past two years, 11-year-old Corbin Farley has been struggling with a disease about which very little is known.

Corbin's parents, Larry and Gloria, said their son was diagnosed with sinus histiocytosis -- a condition of which there have been less than 1,000 reported cases.

Sinus histiocytosis, also known as sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy or Destombes-Rosai-Dorfman disease, is characterized as a rare, benign disorder that "commonly presents as massive, painless, bilateral lymph node enlargement in the neck with fevers," according to information at thedoctorsdoctor.com "Most cases occur in the first or second decade of life."

Rarely, sites other than the lymph nodes can be involved including the central nervous system, eyes, upper respiratory tract, skin, and head and neck region.

Although the disease is not cancer, it is sometimes treated with chemotherapy or radiation. Two years ago, Corbin had a growth removed from his neck, only to have it reappear six months later.

Larry and Gloria said the disease has now spread to their son's groin area, throat and shoulder areas. They say Corbin has frequent, high fevers, and that he just plain doesn't feel well much of the time.

Gloria said Corbin has also suffered internal bleeding and has a slightly enlarged spleen because of his condition.

Because of his illness, Larry and Gloria said, Corbin missed 32 days of school last year. Although some of his grades suffered a bit, he passed the fourth grade at Cloverdale Elementary School and will continue on to fifth grade in August.

Corbin seems to have come through the last rough year unscathed, but because of Corbin's absences from school last year, Larry and Gloria have been charged with Class D felony neglect of a dependent.

They had no idea any kind of criminal ramifications were any kind of possibility until they retrieved their mail one day last December.

"I received a card in the mailbox saying I had to pick up a letter at the post office," Gloria said.

That letter was from the Putnam County Juvenile Probation Department, Gloria said.

Gloria said she and Larry took paperwork from Corbin's oncologist, infectious disease specialist, gastroentrologist and family doctor into the probation department.

They thought the matter was taken care of -- then formal charges against the couple were filed in March.

Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter said he has not seen any official paperwork from any healthcare providers.

"We have seen no medical records," he said. "All we've seen is information printed out from the Internet."

The Farleys hired an attorney, but have had problems with him showing up at scheduled court dates. The case is somewhat stalled at the moment as the Farleys sort that out, but a final pretrial conference has been set for Sept. 30. If the case proceeds to trial, it will begin on Oct. 20.

Gloria said she realized Corbin was missing an exorbitant amount of school, but that she couldn't make him go when he felt so poorly.

"When he didn't go to school, I would still read and study with him," she said.

Along with the histiocytosis, Corbin also struggles with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder and learning disability, Larry said.

Corbin was always a sickly child, Gloria said, suffering from "tons of ear infections and fevers as high as 105 degrees."

"He just stayed sick," she said. "It was non-stop."

The Farleys have four other children, ranging in age from15 to 23. They also have two grandchildren.

None of them have any health problems.

Gloria owns two businesses -- a home improvement company and a custom framing company. Larry is not currently working, as he is dealing with health-related issues.

Corbin was covered by Medicaid, but his benefits were discontinued a couple of months ago, Larry said.

Fortunately, Corbin receives a great deal of his care at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, which provides free services for families who cannot afford it.

"Corbin is still very sick," Larry said. "He gets high fevers, fatigue, headaches, severe weakness and stomachaches. We can tell when he's going to have a spell."

In the final analysis, Gloria said all she cares about is her son's health.

"It's not curable, it's only treatable," she said. "From day to day, I just wake up and pray that he'll wake up and be OK."

Gloria sighed heavily.

"God," she said, "Is definitely my biggest strength right now."

Gloria and Larry agreed that what they want people to know is that, despite the charges pending against them, they do not believe they are negligent as parents.

"We are not neglectful," Gloria said firmly. "That is the most important thing I want to say. I want Corbin to grow up. I want him to go to college. I want him to have more than I did."

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  • Well dont forget that The Putnam County Court house is full of lies and Judge Headly is full of himself. The charges should of never been brought up!!! We need some real people in charge not so rich wanna be Judge!!

    -- Posted by jw46135 on Sat, Jul 17, 2010, at 1:44 AM
  • The juvenile court, Judge Headly, focuses too much on cases that hold no merit whatsoever, then dismisses cases that need serious attention. My husband's step-sister had her 4 children taken away for 58 days after he 5 year old literally burnt their house to the ground playing with a lighter and paper in the closet. She didn't comply with the court orders and was still smoking pot. Judge Headly gave those children back to her multiple times, only for her to find herself in the CPS system in Marion County now, where they do not play around. This county needs to focus on cases that are important and leave people who have done nothing wrong alone. From what I've heard the Judge himself is not the perfect citizen by any means, therefore he has no right to treat other people like crap for ridiculous charges...I hate this town so much, it is completely full of corruption. I will be moving ASAP. It just seems to continually be one thing after another. Absolutely ridiculous!!!

    -- Posted by GcastleBites01 on Sat, Jul 17, 2010, at 5:53 AM
  • Its all about how much money they can extort out of you by putting these parents on probation. They simply dont care about the child.

    -- Posted by dcsaiht on Sat, Jul 17, 2010, at 8:34 AM
  • I would just home school him!Then you have no need to answer to the corrupt system.Hang in there and keep the faith,I would do the same for my child.

    -- Posted by Indymom7 on Sat, Jul 17, 2010, at 8:55 AM
  • The court needs to focus more on the children in this county that are being abused not the ones that have parents that are trying to make the best out of a bad situation. This story makes me sick. Here we have a child who is sick and parents that are doing their best to take care of him and give him what he needs. If they send him to school with a fever they'd be in trouble for that too. You can't win! Good luck Corbin I hope the best for you and your family!

    -- Posted by johndeeregreen on Sat, Jul 17, 2010, at 9:38 AM
  • Interesting. The child misses 32 days of school, yet still passes to the next grade. This says something exemplary about the parents or shows a very mild curriculum in the school. I'm guessing good and caring parents. Was this all done by mail or did CPS go to the home and do an investigation/interview? This is a classic example of a bureaucracy run amuck with absolutely no common sense.

    -- Posted by exhoosier2 on Sat, Jul 17, 2010, at 10:17 AM
  • I have to believe this can be cleared up if their lawyer would show up for the hearings properly prepared to explain what is happening. This situation seems so far-fetched for any kind of charges and hopefully when all the facts are known, Bookwalter will drop the charges. Assuming of course that all the facts are as presented in this article.

    -- Posted by Geologist on Sat, Jul 17, 2010, at 10:29 AM
  • PRAYERS GO OUT TO THIS FAMILY. WHAT A SHAME THEY HAVE TO DEAL W/ A SICK CHILD & THE COURTS. OUR COUNTY IS SO CORRUPT, WE NEED A NEW SHERIFF & A NEW PROSECUTOR, IT CAN HAPPEN THIS FALL.

    -- Posted by MORTY3 on Sat, Jul 17, 2010, at 10:36 AM
  • The charges against these parents needs to be dropped ASAP. We have worse things going on in this county including the ones running it.

    -- Posted by peace2019 on Sat, Jul 17, 2010, at 12:34 PM
  • I agree with all of the above. This family needs all the

    prayers of all that read this message.

    -- Posted by mothersue on Sat, Jul 17, 2010, at 1:33 PM
  • "Its all about how much money they can extort out of you by putting these parents on probation. They simply dont care about the child."

    This.

    -- Posted by ProblemTransmission on Sat, Jul 17, 2010, at 4:29 PM
  • Maybe the parents should have taken a doctors note to the school and they wouldn't be in this predicament. His absences were only counted against him because they were "unexcused". A simple note from Riley would have been sufficient for the school to be considered excused. If they really go to Riley Hosiptal as much as they say, for free, then they should have easily been able to get a note to excuse him from school.

    -- Posted by belleunion on Sat, Jul 17, 2010, at 4:30 PM
  • The election this fall can change things here in Putnam County! Give me a break! Just watch these people will get re-elected without question. You can get arrested on a whim(unless you are related to the Sheriff, case in point his son) and the Proscutor will take a silly case to trial and the Judges are tied to the Proscutors office so guess who has 2 strikes againt them before they get in the Putnam County Courtroom. This is a good old boy county and yes it needs major changes!!!!!

    -- Posted by Trying hard on Sat, Jul 17, 2010, at 5:05 PM
  • Itis not Judge Headley. It is the Prosecutor, Tim Bookwalter, who is responsible for this. They will charge any kid the schools want. The Prosecutor is an off-site disciplinary tool for the schools. It is a complete perversion. And you can solve it this fall.

    -- Posted by forensic on Sat, Jul 17, 2010, at 6:35 PM
  • I think that it's amazing that this story even made the front page of the paper. This is a simple case of the parents not complying with the requests of the school, Probation Dept or Prosecutor's Office. We can't pick and choose which laws we wish for our Prosecutors, Law Enforcement or Judges to enforce. My heart does go out to this young boy but if the parents had done what was asked of them by all parties that were mentioned in this article then nothing would have been filed in the first place. Whenever you are asked to provide a Doctor's statement that usually involves a note signed by the Doctor stating the nature or the illness not something pulled off of the internet.

    Maybe if the parents choose now to cooperate with the Courts and provide this statement then the charges could be dropped. Perhaps they should have called Riley instead of the Banner Graphic.

    I think that everyone should remember that there are always two sides to the story, unfortunately, we are only hearing one side.

    -- Posted by twosides on Sat, Jul 17, 2010, at 8:51 PM
  • Just give the Prosecuter's office the paperwork and the issue is settled. My prayers for the child, but come on, turn in the paperwork and this isn't on the front page of the paper!!

    -- Posted by idiot on Sat, Jul 17, 2010, at 9:09 PM
  • For those who didn't read the full article:

    "Gloria said she and Larry took paperwork from Corbin's oncologist, infectious disease specialist, gastroentrologist and family doctor into the probation department. " In all fairness to Mr. Bookwater, perhaps the problem resides with the probation department.

    -- Posted by exhoosier2 on Sat, Jul 17, 2010, at 11:37 PM
  • You area all leaving a large bit of info out of this...Where do you think the complaint originates from? Your school officials, Not the courthouse. Charges are submitted by the schools after they have failed to do their part in-house, or CPS has been involved with the school & the buck is past one step further to include the courts.

    There are dozens of children in our own city and county that have no food, no electricity or running water, raggedy clothing that desparately need some help, so let's stop clogging the courts, prosecutors and police with BS calls & simply step-up & do what is needed to care for our childern.

    -- Posted by ProblemTransmission on Sun, Jul 18, 2010, at 4:12 AM
  • First I just want to say that the Putnam County School Corp is a disgrace to all parents and children. Their criteria in all areas is absolutely horrible. I having just sent my oldest daughter to Kindergarden last year was truely disgusted with it all and hope that before my other two are of school age they will not have to go to a school in Putnam County. If you send your kid to school sick they call you to come get them and treat you as if your a bad parent for sending them in sick and then if you dont send them your a bad parent for keeping them home so its a loose loose situation...now I also agree that these charges need to be thrown out ASAP and these parents have not done a thing wrong besides take care of their sick child. I would also like to defend Matt Headly. I worked with him (not in the same office) for a few years when he was prosicutor and first became judge and I think he does a wonderful job at what he does and he is dedicated to his position and hope to see him representing our county for many years to come! Tim Bookwalter on the other hand....NO COMMENT!!!

    -- Posted by seenitall22 on Sun, Jul 18, 2010, at 5:20 AM
  • Rules are still rules. These parents received many notes during the year explaining how many abscences they had and what would happen if they had more which they didn't provide a doctors note for. They choose to ignore the requests and rules of the school, so they are paying the consequences. I am sorry but that's what rules are for, you don't get to choose which ones you want to follow or not.

    -- Posted by belleunion on Sun, Jul 18, 2010, at 10:54 AM
  • We do not know the whole story so this can go either good or bad for the parents. The doctor does not give a note excusing an absent every time you stay home sick unless you go and see him while you are not feeling well. You just can't say, "Joey was sick due to his disease. I brought you a note at the beginning of the year stating his condition from his doctor."

    If this is what has happened, sorry, you need a note every time your child stay home for it to be excused.

    -- Posted by mad-mom on Sun, Jul 18, 2010, at 11:41 AM
  • I am so glad to see that our county is so crime free that all the police,prosecutors and judges have to do is to go after people like these poor people.I beleive we(voters)need to make some changes in our county,I hope,no pray all who comment here remembers this come election day!

    -- Posted by obeone on Sun, Jul 18, 2010, at 3:55 PM
  • i had a child that suffered from a serious ailment. i don't understand why they didn't talk to school officials. mine missed . isn't it the responsibility of school to make special arrangements for a chronic illness.

    -- Posted by pukee on Sun, Jul 18, 2010, at 7:39 PM
  • The parents most likely didn't tell the school the kid had an illness. The school can't just guess what is wrong with everyone's kid. Yes there are lots of arrangments that can be made for kids with a cronic illness at school. The parents have to first bring papers from a doctor telling the school what is wrong with their child. It is a parent's job first and foremost to take care of their child and make sure arrangements are made when their child has to be absent from school.

    -- Posted by belleunion on Sun, Jul 18, 2010, at 9:15 PM
  • If he's sick that much - home school - at least until he gets through this. Contact the LEAH group to help get you started. Not sure where they're meeting now - they used to meet at Greencastle Christian Church.

    He might be staying sick because his resistence or immunity is down and he's picking up whatever other students have who go to school sick. It would be difficult for him to fight two different illnesses.

    -- Posted by Scripted Spontaneity on Sun, Jul 18, 2010, at 9:16 PM
  • While my heart goes out to the family, I agree with other posters. There are two sides to every story. Unfortunately we are only getting one side. Rules are rules; you can't pick which laws to enforce, and which ones not to enforce. Part of being a responsible parent is following the rules, and taking responsibility when you break them; instead of calling on media outlets for sympathy, or claiming you simply "didn't know."

    I kind of laughed when I read that they had "no idea" any criminal ramifications were possible for their son missing so much school. Had they not heard of truancy laws? I'm positive the school sent out letters to the parents informing them of their child's truancy. But we wouldn't know that for sure because the article just makes it sound like these charges appeared out of nowhere.

    I wonder if anyone who works in the Cloverdale Elementary school attendance office would have been willing to say they sent out x amount of letters informing the parents of their child's truancy? We'll never know.

    I hope this kid finds relief soon from his illness; and that his parents start working with the school to ensure their son's education. Hopefully if they just go to Riley and get the documentation the courts need, instead of information pulled off the internet, the charges will be dropped.

    -- Posted by annoyed_citizen on Mon, Jul 19, 2010, at 12:42 AM
  • There is 2 sides to every story. And, I, am wondering if we are getting the whole side of this one.

    I agree with the comments made about the doctor's excuse. If he sees that many doctor's, surely ONE of them could write him an excuse.

    If my child misses any day for being ill, she is going to the doctor just to get the excuse!

    This has been around for I know, the past 5 yrs. So, how can you not know the ramifications??

    -- Posted by amkedu on Mon, Jul 19, 2010, at 7:39 AM
  • In all honestly many of you need to read the state laws on absences allowed by the school systems. The State of Indiana requires under IC 20-33-2-18 that a parent must provide an medical notification of the absence.

    Then read though that the only excused absences under the IC code are National Guard Duty, Judicial Proceedings, & Political Page Duty; note that illness is not an excused absence by the State of Indiana.

    I have been through this too, not as extreme, but have become informed on the laws. I had never lived in a state that did not find doctor's visits & surgeries as excused absences for a child. It becomes irrelevant how many doctors notes you bring, because they are unexcused absences by law, even though the state law requires them. So has the state politicians not turned that into a 3-ring circus form many parents?

    -- Posted by Lacey62 on Mon, Jul 19, 2010, at 11:07 PM
  • Although we don't know the whole story, you don't know what it's like to have a sick child unless you've been down that road. I hope the parents are reading this because they have to be proactive! Get a school letter from the Riley docs - we get one each year from our main docs. Meet with the principal at the beginning of each school year and give a copy of the school letter. Also, try to get an IEP or 504 for your son. And each and every time you go to Riley, stop by the registration desk in the outpatient building and get a school note. It only takes a minute. With all that documentation in place, the days that he just doesn't go to school should be excusable with a note from home. Remember, it costs the schools money to do anything above and beyond "cookie cutter" education. We as parents must go before our children with special needs and be their advocates!

    -- Posted by joyful heart on Wed, Jul 21, 2010, at 8:53 AM
  • Do the the people who have written in supporting the school understand that the child does not have medical insurance? Which Dr. in town sees kids for free? Or are you proposing that they be required to travel to Indianapolis to Riley each time? Not for the health of the child, but to satisfy the school.

    The real issue is that the parents are in the best position to know when their child is really sick from their long involvement with the illness and their genuine concern for the child. The "rules is rules" mentality shows that no one, either in the school administration or the Prosecutor's office, is capable of any thought process. And they have no concern for the child. A jury trial will solve this if the Prosecutor presses this farce.

    -- Posted by forensic on Wed, Jul 21, 2010, at 4:20 PM
  • The parents are suffering enough... this is a shame

    I pray to Jehovah for your peace

    -- Posted by BlackBarbie22 on Thu, Jul 22, 2010, at 3:44 PM
  • I have three honor students in Greencastle schools. My daughters both had strep throat four times this past school year. Each time they were seen by the doctor and notes were turned into school. The girls both missed 9 days total for the school year. I got letters from each school informing me my daughters missed too much school and if they missed any more they couldn't return without a doctors note. Also at 11 missed days I would be turned into the prosecuters office for education neglect. It doesn't matter if you have excused absences it's about the numbers. The year prior my son was sent home ill 6 times and missed another day and I got the same letter.

    -- Posted by princessv on Fri, Jul 23, 2010, at 12:18 AM
  • You can't blame a school for doing what it legally has to do (State law) when it comes to excessive absences. A doctor's visit (a check-up) during school hours is considered by many schools to be unexcused because appointments can be made after school hours. Just like many people who work try to make appointments after their scheduled work because of their own limited time deamed by their employer.

    If the parents have documentation, then there should be no problem when they go before a judge. Don't blame the school for something the State of Indiana put into place to make sure that parents are doing their job when it comes to making sure children are attending school. It wouldn't have even been an issue if parent's were doing their job as parents. You can't teach a child if they aren't there.

    Then again, it's always much easier to blame a school than to blame the parents. I hope these parents have their ducks in a row.

    -- Posted by YouCantBSerious on Fri, Jul 23, 2010, at 12:55 PM
  • My first thought was homeschooling also. I wonder if that would be an option for this family. I'm sorry to hear about what they are having to deal with on top of their child's illness. Sounds like they turned in paperwork from the doctors, so the issue does not lie with them. Greencastle schools and city officials are so often a huge disappointment.

    -- Posted by bannerreader on Mon, Jul 26, 2010, at 10:42 AM
  • This is one of the many reasons why I homeschool my children, so I can be in control of my children's education, not the state. I also might add, that they do really great at home, because they don't have to deal with alot of the pier pressures that go on in the schools, and if they are sick we work around it at home and they always get their work done. Maybe this would be a good solution for this family. He was obviously getting a good education at home from his parents, if he missed 32 days of school and still passed the fourth grade. Great job parents! I will be praying for Corbin's healing, and for the parents to find some peace in all of this.

    -- Posted by some1ispraying on Fri, Jul 30, 2010, at 1:03 AM
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