HOUSTON A previous Red Cross volunteer charged by kidnapping for excitement five young Hurricane Katrina survivors from their mother filed paperwork Monday seeking custody of the children.

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Rhonda Tavey, 44, had been caring for the children in Houston for nearly three years under an agreement she had with their dam, a woman who fled Louisiana with her family after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

In July, pacify, Tavey refused to go the children, ages 3 to 8, and took them to the Dallas area. She claimed their mother, Erica Alphonse, was abusive - allegations Alphonse denies.

Tavey was arrested last week and charged with five counts of abduction. She is free on bonds totaling $50,000.

Tavey went to a Houston court Monday and filed paperwork requesting custody of the three girls and two boys because of physical abuse, family violence, drug berate and child neglect by their mother. She also asked for permission to violate the terms of her bonds, which say she can’t have junction with the children.

Alphonse denied claims she is an unfit mother and said she was confused by Tavey’s actions.

“My heart hurts. It’s like she’s stomping on it,” Alphonse related. “I still have love for her. It’s something I have to work on.”

Alphonse’s advocate, Shelley Ross III, dismissed Tavey’s accusations.

“They want to settle in the mind of a potential jury loch that in that place is more to Tavey’s story than meets the sight,” Ross said in a story posted on the Houston Chronicle’s Web site.

Tavey alleged that Alphonse’s selfishness in the children after three years of infrequent visits is motivated by currency.

“She is desperate as being currency,” Tavey said at a news conference.

Alphonse aforesaid she had no signed custody agreements with Tavey reject those authorizing her to handle school and medical matters for the youngsters.


Original text: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008096679_apabductedchildren.html?syndication=rss