Posted on 07/30/2002 7:59:05 AM PDT by victim soul
The issue of abortion has long been one of the most debated and controversial topics, but the issue is now hitting close to home.
Tanya Meyers, 22, of Kingston, is 10 weeks pregnant and wants to abort the child because of the verbal and emotional abuse and threats of bodily harm she claims her ex-boyfriend is putting her through.
Meyers said she has scheduled the abortion for today. John Stachokus, 27, of Plains, is trying to prevent Meyers from having the abortion and filed an injunction in county court on Monday to put a halt to it. He is also seeking full custody of the unborn child.
Stachokus said his mother advised him to take a paternity test, but regardless he is against abortion on principle alone.
Meyers said she learned she was pregnant two months ago while she was still in the relationship with Stachokus. Things were going well for the first four months of their time together, but she said things began to grow worse when she wanted to explore her options and he wanted her to have the baby.
"He was putting me through verbal and emotional abuse and threats of bodily harm," she said. "Even when we were together, I was considering an abortion, but I didn't have the money."
Meyers said she just wants to move on from the relationship and added she filed a protection from abuse order on Monday against Stachokus before she was served with the injunction papers. She also questioned Stachokus' intentions with the injunction.
"Honestly and truly, he doesn't want this baby; he wants me," She explained. "He feels that by having custody of the baby he would have control over me. He's just trying to hurt me because I don't want to be with him."
The injunction orders Meyers not to have the abortion performed and her mother is ordered not to make arrangements for one. The court also ordered any clinic to restrain from performing an abortion on her.
Meyers said she has consulted her attorney about what to do concerning today's scheduled appointment but was advised not to disclose details. Stachokus has retained an attorney from the Philadelphia area, and a hearing on the issue is scheduled for this Wednesday at the Luzerne County courthouse.
Stachokus said the talk of an abortion is a surprise because he felt Meyers was looking forward to having the baby. "She told everyone she was going to have the baby, and she even picked out godparents," he said, adding he isn't trying to salvage their relationship with the baby. "I told her that if she thinks she can find a man to give her a happier life, feel free. Just don't kill the baby," Stachokus said. "People in relationships always have problems, but don't take it out on an unborn child."
Upon being served the injunction, Meyers said that she contacted the clinic, where the abortion was scheduled, and that clinic officials put her in touch with a lawyer to represent her. She said that no matter what her reasons are, choosing to have an abortion is her right.
"It's hard enough to make a decision to terminate the pregnancy, but between the constant harassment from him and all the pro-life groups he has calling me, the whole situation is difficult," Meyers stressed. "I am prepared to go to jail if that's what it takes." Another element to the matter is Meyers' 2-year-old son, Ryon.
Stachokus said he has developed a strong bond with her son and he's afraid the child would think he walked out on him.
"Not only am I losing one child, I'm losing two," he said. "It's irrelevant whether we get back together, all I care about is the welfare of the child and I'm totally against abortion." In regards to the PFA, Stachokus said he was never served with any papers and denied any harassment.
But he did admit to calling Meyers - for a different reason. "I wasn't calling her to take me back, just to please have the child," he said. "I'll definitely attempt my hardest to gain full custody. If she goes through with this, I'll always know in the back of my mind I could've had a son or a daughter."
Stachokus said the talk of an abortion is a surprise because he felt Meyers was looking forward to having the baby. "She told everyone she was going to have the baby, and she even picked out godparents," he said, adding he isn't trying to salvage their relationship with the baby. "I told her that if she thinks she can find a man to give her a happier life, feel free. Just don't kill the baby," Stachokus said. "People in relationships always have problems, but don't take it out on an unborn child."
Ms. Myers having already screwed up her son's life should at the very least carry the baby to term and put it up for adoption. That would solve the problem and answer the question if Mr. Stachokus really intends to use custody of the baby to control her.
If Mr. Shack-up wants custody of the child, she can certainly sign away her parental rights and go about her merry way. So many children's lives to screw up and so little time.
I can't tell how sick I am of hearing about selfish people who would snuff out a child's life like it's nothing because of their bad choices.
But the problem is Stachokus got a woman pregnant outside of marriage.
He's got no one to blame but himself if he loses -- he caused it all.
But then you might as well accept abortion.
People like this don't need to be breeding to begin with. I would think that she would have learned her lesson with the firs baby, born when she was a teenager (19).
This still points to the ridiculousness of the pro-abortion arguement. Only the woman can decide...well, it took "two to tango". That was a 50-50 deal, why not the "choice" to abort. And, furthermore, if she decided that she wanted it and he didn't, he would then be a deadbeat dad.
One hand, the guy is a psycho, bunny-roaster...
On the other, he is a deadbeat dad...
I'll tell you, us guys can't get anything right, eh?
It is his fault.
But he got her pregnant outside of marriage -- it is his fault.
He caused the whole thing by his irresponsible actions and behavior in the first place.
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