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Posted: **Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:16 am**

Jailed father seeks parental rights

Last Updated: Friday, 28 March 2008, 11:06 GMT

Joshua Mauldin was jailed for microwaving his baby daughterThe father sentenced to 25 years in a Texas prison for severely burning his two-month-old daughter in a microwave oven is declining to give up his parental rights.

"He loves his baby," Sam Cammack III, the lawyer for Joshua Mauldin, said in a story published online in the Houston Chronicle. "He wants to be part of Ana's life."

The mother, Eva Mauldin, has relinquished her parental rights, Mr Cammack said.

Ana suffered second and third-degree burns to her left ear, cheek, hand and shoulder and has required several skin grafts. Part of her left ear had to be amputated

Mauldin, convicted of injury to a child, was sentenced on Wednesday to 25 years in prison and fined 10,000 US dollars (£5,000). Jurors rejected his claim that he was insane when he put his daughter in the oven.

A custody hearing is scheduled for April 22. Child welfare officials are looking favourably on a plan for Ana's foster parents, Heather and Jeremy Croxton, to adopt her.

"They have taken amazing care of her," agency spokeswoman Gwen Carter said.

"They love her, she loves them. We have regular contact with them, and we feel comfortable that she is safe."

Posted: **Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:19 am**

He loves her to death. :-5 :-5

Posted: **Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:22 am**

I hope this is where the state comes in and legally takes away his parental rights.

Posted: **Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:24 am**

I hope they give the child to the foster parents, the father does not deserve parental rights.

Posted: **Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:26 am**

[QUOTE=qsducks;818723]I hope this is where the state comes in and legally takes away his parental rights.[/QUOTE]

They should have no rights the moment their convicted.:-5:-5

Posted: **Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:08 am**

I doubt somehow that this individual will be granted parental rights or access. In any case, the fact that he is serving 25 years in prison makes it somewhat academic. Though I can understand why people would not wish him to have any form of access to that child again, biological father or not.

Posted: **Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:13 am**

He should not have access to ANY children. Period.

Posted: **Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:29 am**

He should have no rights again ever, he should be left in a small cell with nothing but bread and water, no contact from anybody and a very sharp razor blade.