Dad forces teenage son into detention center for refusing to visit (Warren, Michigan)

Dad VICTOR MASTROGIOVANNI is essentially forcing his teenage son into a juvenile detention center for refusing to visit.

Fathers rights people are now doubt screaming "parental alienation" over this one.

Often lost in the screaming is whether the child has actual reason for fearing/disliking the "alienated" parent. If there is a reason, there is no "alienation." Case closed.

We aren't told much about Dad here. But we do know that he's perfectly willing to force his son into a potentially dangerous juvie center because the son will not buckle to Dad's demands. I would humbly submit that if Dad was really a poor aggrieved party here, victimized my Mom's "alienating" behavior, he would have reacted with loving patience to the situation, and would have not acted out as a vindictive bully. Because Dad's actions are proving just that: He's a vindictive bully who's more interested in "punishing" than developing a positive relationship with his son. No wonder his teen son doesn't want to have much to do with him. Does Dad seriously think his son is going to love him after he's essentially jailed his own kid? I suspect that Dad doesn't really give a f---; he's just playing the heavy. And no doubt Dad will be whining even more about how the kid continues to be "alienated" after he gets out of juvie. No sh--, Sherlock.

Judge John Foster needs to get a clue, and fast.

http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=11547266

Go to jail or spend time with Dad
Posted: Nov 20, 2009 3:23 PM CST
Updated: Nov 20, 2009 3:44 PM CST

(NBC) - A Michigan teen will serve a four-day sentence at a juvenile detention center for refusing to visit his biological father.

Jacob Mastrogiovanni, 14, lives with his mother in Warren, MI. His father, who has joint custody, lives in New Baltimore. Mastrogiovanni said he has deliberately missed court ordered visitations with his father, and because of that, Judge John Foster has ruled he should be held in contempt of court and sentenced to time in a youth home.

Mastrogiovanni's mother, Dawn Platevoet, said her son is a hard working student and that she fears for his safety inside the Macomb Juvenile Center.

"I'm very worried. I'm very concerned for the well-being of my son," Platevoet said. "The child is being torn in between this kind of situation due to the friend of the court. They're not looking at the best interest for my son."

Mastrogiovanni said staying at the youth home for four days would not change his attitude toward his father.

"I guess he's going to have to be punished. I don't necessarily like that he's in there but something has to be done," Mastrogiovanni's father, Victor, said by phone Thursday.

Mastrogiovanni would not be specific with why he was refusing to spend time with his father.