This is a press release I received from the attorney who represents James Fortune’s stepson. He’s the victim in this case:
It has come to my attention that James and Cheryl Fortune have resorted to witness tampering by picking up the victim, the subject of the impending lawsuit, from the maternal grandmother (without the father’s knowledge or permission); taking him to their attorney’s office and having the minor victim sign a statement purportedly contradicting the facts in this case; and then returning the child to the maternal grandmother before the father arrived to retrieve his son.
At no point was the father advised of the activity. What is most troublesome about these recent actions, is that their lawyer should have known her own conduct violates the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, Section 4.02, which prohibits a lawyer from “communicating or causing another person to communicate about the subject of representation with a person the lawyer knows to be represented by another lawyer without the consent of the other lawyer”.
Neither I, nor my client’s father (his legal guardian and representative for purpose of this law suit), were contacted by the Fortunes or their counsel with a request to interview my client about this matter. It is my firm belief that these actions are not only a violation of the Texas Penal Code, Section 36.05, but also the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct.
As such, I will be asking the proper authorities to investigate these actions for criminal charges and professional sanctions. It is hoped that in the future, the Fortunes and their counsel will contact my office when attempting to question my client about this matter and comply with the rules of procedure.
Sadly, James and Cheryl’s actions are indicative of the manipulation, intimidation, control and confusion that they have perpetrated on my client since his was a young child and further illustrates the merits of our case. The enclosed sworn physician’s statement is only a fraction of the evidence that detail the injuries suffered by client.
For more information contact Attorney Toni Jones-Stroman
Background: James Fortune was arrested and received deferred adjudication for physically abusing his stepson back in 2001 according to court records.
That son, who is now 15, was beaten and submerged in a tub full of hot water according to the civil lawsuit filed by the son’s biological father.
Note: I’m hoping to get a response from Fortune and his attorney as soon as possible.
Thus the rabbit hole grows deeper.
What were they thinking? God have mercy on their soul…What is done in the DARK does come to the LIGHT…the same mercy that they show to that poor child…as he place in the tub of hot…hot… water
I read that the then 4yr old child was beaten with a switch after his pre-school teacher told James that the child colored on the table. After beating the 4yr old with a switch James held him in scolding hot water causing 47% of his body to be burned. The child had to be air lifted so that he could be treated. I also read that at 15yrs old today the child requires additional surgeries to correct the disfigured scaring on his body. As a mother let me say that between the ages of 2-5 kids write on walls tables etc… its a phase that does NOT require switches and burning to make them understanding that we write on paper not walls or tables. That was an evil act of abuse. I know God changes people, but after reading this recent statement from the childs lawyer Im feeling like more and more people are using gods word and music as a hustle. God sees everything and he’s on to everyone so people better be careful playing with Our father.
Let’s just pray for both parties and stop JUDGING…….if everyone of us had our closet opened people would be shocked about our MESS……..there are no little sins……….be careful about judging others…….Lord keep my closet closed and have mercy on my soul …….JUDGE NOT LEST YE BE JUDGED,,,,,,,,,Just a thought
It’s not judging its the truth and if people don’t want the truth don’t do it especially to helpless children……
Let’s just pray for both parties and stop JUDGING…….the devil is after people of God including you so don’t give him any room to move around….we post comments as if we were there when it happened but we were not so …….PRAY …….only 3 people know the truth ( them,God and the devil) if everyone of us had our closet opened others would be shocked about our MESS……..there are no little sins……….be careful about judging others…….Lord keep my closet closed and have mercy on my soul …….JUDGE NOT LEST YE BE JUDGED,,,,,,,,,Just a thought
@lisa, this is not a matter of judging. James Fortune plead guilty to the charges PERIOD! We as christians MUST understand that their are consequences for our actions whether good or bad. We must stop allowing carnal preachers to feed us with nonsense and taking scriptures out of context to suit our fleshly desires and cover up our filth.
@lisa, please go somewhere and saddown! You are the type of woman that would probably be foolish enough like this child’s mother to STILL be with a man that would abuse her child, then lie about it to cover it up, then PLED GUILTY to get a lesser charge. I wish some “church folk” would stop being S.O.S. (stuck on stupid) and discern good from evil and evil from good. I pray for all parties involved that total healing, restoration, repentance and forgiveness would take place. Folks, please read the bible IN CONTEXT and understand the PROPER methods that we as Christians ARE TO JUDGE! Lord have mercy!
Lisa, people in the church that think like you are the reason so many young kids have been molested in the church. U can’t pray for everything without using some common sense too!
I like your posting. Just wanted to say that I agree.
Lisa you are a MORON!!!….Yes everyone has skeletons and past sins in their closet but not everyone goes around physically abusing children. I have done plenty of sins in my life…meaning gossiping, fornication, drinking, backstabbing, not paying tithes. I have never physically harmed a child, that is not only a SIN but a serious indiciation that the individual is a sick human being. James Fortune should still be in jail for what he did. Yes he can be forgiven and if he is truly sorry God has forgiven him but God also states in his words that you will be punished for your actions and sins you have committed. That includes scalding a 4 year old innocent child.