"Primary caregiver" custodial dad sent to prison for home invasion (Leola, Pennsylvania)

Does somebody want to explain to me how or why dad JASON J. CLAPPER is a "primary caregiver" with custody of his child?

Sure shows you how low the bar is these days for daddies being awarded primary caregiver with custody status. Clapper has been convicted of donning a mask, climbing up a fire escape, breaking into an apartment, and fighting with the occupants. He assaulted a city police officer who chased him as he fled from said apartment. Seems Daddy wanted "revenge" against the apartment occupants.

And despite all that, it seems we're supposed to feel sorry for Clapper because he is a custodial dad and "primary caregiver." And have mercy on him and all that.

What I want to know is this: What happened to the mother of this child? Was she also subjected to Daddy's "bad decisions" and volatility? Did Daddy also pull the same violence motivated out of "revenge" on her? Who granted him custody anyway? Who put this child in this home with this nut? Anybody want to take credit for that "bad decision?"

INVISIBLE MOTHER ALERT.

http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/303092

Leola man sent to state prison for home invasion
Admits 'bad decision'
Intelligencer Journal
Lancaster New Era
Oct 20, 2010 18:24 EST

By JANET KELLEY, Staff Writer
Media Center

A Leola man said it was a "bad decision" to don a mask, climb up a fire escape, break into a city apartment and fight with the occupants.

Jason J. Clapper, 27, apologized to the victims and the court system Wednesday in Lancaster County Court.

"I did make a bad decision," Clapper told President Judge Joseph Madenspacher, adding that he just wanted to take his punishment and get back to caring for his family.

Madenspacher sentenced Clapper to 1!-R to 4 years in state prison, plus a year of consecutive probation, for the crimes of burglary, assault, conspiracy and possessing an instrument of crime.

First Assistant District Attorney Christopher Larsen said the scenario could have gone "horribly wrong" and that someone could have been seriously injured or killed.

As it is, Larsen said, a child who was among the occupants of the apartment is still having problems coping with the incident.

Madenspacher said he was troubled by Clapper's attempted assault on a city police officer who chased him as he fled the apartment in April 2009.

"People who assault police officers are dangerous people," Madenspacher said. "I really don't understand why you got involved in this."

Defense attorney Michael Marinaro said that Clapper had been beaten by one of the occupants of the North Plum Street apartment and went there that night to get revenge.

A codefendant, Andrew Corson, 26, of Marietta, was trapped in the bathroom by the occupants, but Clapper fled the scene.

City police arrived and, during a foot chase, Clapper swung a baton at one of the pursuing policemen, police said.

Clapper missed and was taken into custody, the judge was told. He pleaded guilty to the charges in July.

By the accounts of Clapper's family and Marinaro, the defendant has a good work history and is the primary caregiver for his child.

"We understand these charges are serious," Clapper's mother told the judge, but her son is a good father who has worked hard to maintain custody of his child, she said.

"A lesser man would have walked away from these custody issues," she said, asking the judge for "whatever mercy can be shown."

Read more: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/303092#ixzz131o1XB4U