In a story that spans two counties, two judges, and far too many agencies willing to look the other way, one family is sounding the alarm about what they believe is a deeply corrupt and retaliatory system—one that punishes the innocent while empowering abusers.
It begins in Allegan County, Michigan, where Kyle, a father, attempted to protect his 3-year-old daughter from suspected sexual abuse by her biological mother and the mother’s boyfriend. Rather than investigate the abuse claims, then Judge Roberts Kengis allegedly jailed Kyle and stripped him of his parental rights.
“Kengis violated Kyle’s rights. It cost him his job. It cost us our home.”
This marks the third report of wrongful incarceration carried out by now former Judge Roberts Kengis.
Why is Judge Margaret Bakker Still Pursuing Charges After a Successful Appeal?
New Robe, Old Habits?: Scrutiny Follows Christopher Burnett to the Bench in Allegan County
The judge who replaced Kengis ultimately ruled that Kyle never should have been jailed. She awarded him full physical custody, effectively acknowledging the miscarriage of justice.
But by then, the damage was already done.
Now, with custody re-established, the mother has retaliated. Upset over being ordered to pay child support, she allegedly enlisted CPS (Child Protective Services) and Bethany Christian Services in a plot to reclaim the child by weaponizing false accusations.
The accusations? “Mental injury.”
The outcome? The child was removed once again.
The proof? Still missing.
The trauma? Inescapable.
The stepmother reports that for nearly a year, she has not been allowed to speak to or even mention her stepdaughter’s name, despite there being no allegations or charges filed against her. Meanwhile, the child’s welfare continues to hang in the balance, caught in the crossfire of a system that punishes caregivers while shielding bad actors.
“Bethany Christian Services is siding with biological mom—who is making false paperwork on her behalf. The judge even ordered no contact with the boyfriend, but the mother has broken that order repeatedly.”
Today, the family is sounding the alarm. They allege CPS and Bethany Christian Services are not only ignoring court orders, but also enabling abusers and retaliating against parents who dare to push back.
What Needs to Happen Next
This isn’t just a custody dispute. It’s a full-blown crisis of credibility, accountability, and protection for the vulnerable. When false allegations are allowed to override court orders, when agencies team up with known violators, when the court repeatedly jails fathers who raise concerns about abuse, we have a system that isn’t broken; it’s rigged entirely.
This family deserves more than silence. They deserve a hearing, some answers; they deserve justice.
Clutch will be following up with formal inquiries to both Allegan and Cass County officials, Bethany Christian Services, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. More details will be shared in future stories.
📩 Submit your story or tips confidentially here. If you’ve experienced similar misconduct in custody or CPS cases, we want to hear from you.
