Judge extends guardianship of 'Modern Family' star; officials find emotional abuse occurred
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A judge determined Tuesday that teen actress Ariel Winter's mother should not regain custody of the "Modern Family" star and that the 14-year-old should remain in her sister's care for the next several weeks.
Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas issued the ruling after considering a report by child protective investigators that was critical of Winter's mother, Chrisoula Workman.
The report found there was evidence of emotional abuse toward Winter, Levanas said, and the agency planned to step in and take its own action if Winter did not remain in a guardianship.
Levanas said the investigators' report found that claims of physical abuse were inconclusive, but an attorney for Winter's sister said they could be proven in a subsequent report.
The judge set a Dec. 12 trial date to determine whether Winter should be placed in a permanent guardianship.
Winter has been under the care of her sister, Shanelle Gray, since early October. Levanas said that if the case remains in his courtroom, he will make sure the family works toward reconciliation.
"Even the judge today agreed that reunification is so important for a family, and while Ariel is still temporarily with her sister for now, we remain hopeful she will be home soon," Chrisoula and Glenn Workman wrote in a statement released Tuesday evening.
Levanas said Glenn Workman's filing was in conflict with statements he gave to investigators and that he could not give him custody of the young actress. He also noted that Glenn Workman described his estranged wife to investigators as "controlling and driven."
Glenn Workman's filing Monday does not address the abuse allegations, but it states he believes his daughter should be returned to live with Chrisoula Workman, or that he be allowed to raise her.
"I want to provide for her a calm loving home environment that is a retreat from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood; a place where she can think and relax without any distractions," Glenn Workman wrote. "This whole situation has turned into a circus and places Ariel in a position she should not have to be in."
Winter's credits include appearances on several TV series, including "ER" and "Phineas and Ferb," and movies such as "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," ''Ice Age: The Meltdown" and "ParaNorman."
ABC is a unit of The Walt Disney Co.
Read More: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/guardianship-extended-modern-family-star-165521744.html
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