The Latest: Michigan judge rescinds order in custody case

SANDUSKY, Mich. (AP) — The Latest on hearing over joint legal custody given to convicted sex offender (all times local):

3:20 p.m.

A Michigan judge has rescinded his order that gave a convicted sex offender joint legal custody of a child born to a woman who said the man raped her when she was 12.

Sanilac County Judge Gregory Ross ruled Tuesday that 27-year-old Christopher Mirasolo won’t have any parental rights in connection to the 8-year-old boy.

The case started when the 21-year-old mother sought state assistance for her son. As a condition of receiving assistance, the state required she cooperate in pursuing paternity verification and financial support from the child’s father.

A DNA test confirmed paternity. Mirasolo never sought parental rights, but Ross granted him joint legal custody and ordered him to pay child support last month.

Ross quickly put the order on hold after learning Mirasolo had two previous criminal sexual conduct convictions, including one concerning the boy’s mother.

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1 a.m.

A hearing is scheduled in Michigan on a judge’s order that initially gave a convicted sex offender joint legal custody of a child born to a woman who said the man raped her when she was 12.

Attorneys representing the woman and 27-year-old Christopher Mirasolo are to appear Tuesday afternoon before Judge Gregory Ross in Sanilac County.

In September, Ross granted the woman sole physical custody and Mirasolo joint legal custody after DNA tests showed he was the child’s father. But a court spokesman has said the judge didn’t know Mirasolo had two criminal sexual conduct convictions, including one concerning the woman.

In Michigan, joint legal custody enables both parents to share decision-making authority about a child’s welfare.

The case started when the 21-year-old mother sought state assistance for the boy.

Mirasolo’s lawyer says he didn’t initiate the case. He has been ordered to pay child support.