Houston Mother Alleges Evidence Was Excluded as Quanell X Joins Custody Fight

A Houston mother involved in a yearslong custody dispute alleges that a family court judge excluded testimony and court records concerning bruises found on her son, concerns raised by a Child Protective Services worker and statements made during an earlier protective-order proceeding.

Houston community activist Quanell X is now advocating for the mother and calling attention to her allegations about the handling of the case. He is seeking greater scrutiny of the court proceedings and the evidence the mother says judges repeatedly refused to consider.

The mother claims Judge Angela Graves-Harrington Peake refused to admit a transcript from a protective-order hearing held before Judge Damiane Dianne Curvey of Harris County’s 280th District Court.

According to the mother, the transcript documented Curvey acknowledging that she had not reviewed a binder containing more than 20 exhibits, including photographs of bruises on the child, before issuing her initial ruling.

The mother said the exhibits were presented with a motion asking Curvey to reconsider her decision. She alleges Curvey stated that her ruling might have been different had she reviewed all the evidence, including the photographs.

The mother said her former attorney, Melanie Miles, was given approximately 45 minutes to present the case during the original hearing and was unable to introduce all the available evidence within that time.

According to the mother, a physician and a registered nurse were also prepared to testify about the child’s bruises. She alleges Curvey nevertheless declined to rehear the matter, saying she did not want to put the child’s father through another hearing.

The mother’s attorney reportedly argued that the controlling consideration should be the best interest of the child. The request for a new hearing was denied.

During subsequent proceedings before Peake, the mother alleges the court again refused to allow medical testimony concerning the possible cause of the child’s bruises and marks she described as consistent with pinching.

She also claims Peake excluded testimony from a CPS worker who allegedly expressed concerns about the father and reported that he had spanked the child for urinating on himself. The allegations regarding the child’s injuries and the father’s conduct have not been independently verified.

The mother further alleges that the father restricts additional parenting time unless he is present or the visitation is monitored. She claims there have also been occasions when she was required to take the child to the father’s girlfriend instead of directly to him.

The mother said the father recently hired a debt-collection company in an effort to garnish her wages and identify her assets. She also disputes the court’s handling of child-support credits and other financial matters connected to the case.

Peake has imposed sanctions involving two members of the mother’s legal team who previously served on the bench, former federal judge Vanessa Gilmore and former Texas First Court of Appeals Justice Sarah Beth Landau, according to the mother. The precise basis and terms of those sanctions were not provided.

The mother and her legal team are also reviewing whether evidence in the case should be presented to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. She believes the material could support an effort to disqualify the father’s attorney and request an investigation into possible perjury. No criminal charges have been announced, and the allegation has not been adjudicated.

Meanwhile, the mother alleges that continued delays are preventing her from receiving a full trial. She claims Peake’s court reporter stated in writing that she would seek as many continuances as permitted.

The dispute comes after an earlier judgment changing custody was reversed on appeal. Despite that reversal, the mother says she has yet to regain primary custody of her son and continues to face additional hearings, delays and restrictions.

With Quanell X now advocating on her behalf, the mother is seeking public attention, judicial accountability and a complete review of the evidence she says has repeatedly been excluded from consideration.

The allegations remain part of contested legal proceedings. The father, his attorney, Peake, Curvey and the other individuals identified in the mother’s account should be given an opportunity to respond.