AUDIENCE: Good day. Mr. McCrory, after you and your wife received shocking results in this courtroom surrounding your daughter's paternity, <i> you return home and realize you have good reason</i> to doubt your son, Keith's paternity. And now your marriage is on the rocks? Yes, Your Honor. Ms. McCrory, you claim your daughter's result surprised you but you're confident your husband fathered your three-year-old son, and you hope to prove it today, is that correct? Yes, Your Honor. In your court papers it says you all broke up for a few days around Keith's conception, is that true? Yes. Yes,
Your Honor. You did? KEITH: Yes. And so during that break-up, Ms. McCrory, did you sleep with anyone else? Were you intimate with anyone else? Yes, I was. Did you use protection? No. Had you ever told Mr. McCrory about this? ROSE: No, I didn't. Because I... JUDGE LAKE: You didn't? Because I see it as that why would I have to tell him if we're not together? So you felt, like, "We're broken up..." ROSE: It's my business. But when you get pregnant... The bed wasn't even, like, cold, like, it was... We had just broke up, like, I
mean, if me, her, you know, if something happens... ROSE: No. ...to her and she dies today, I'm not gonna have a new woman in the bed three days later because, you know, till death do us part, you know? (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) So the thing was, I couldn't get a hold of her. I called her and I, for two days, she ignored me, finally, I get a hold of her and she... There's a guy in the background, and she's claiming it's her brother but the whole time we're together, he never comes over, and he lives two blocks
away. And then when I say that to her, she's like, "Oh, my friends are here. I got to go, you know, "we're just chilling, blah, blah, blah." JUDGE LAKE: Interesting. So while you're taking that break or you're broken up, you admittedly slept with someone else? Yes, I did. Without protection? Yes. JUDGE LAKE: And... But during the pregnancy with Keith Jr., you never told him even after the birth? No, because I was just 1,000%... KEITH: She's a liar. ...know that's his child right there. That's his kid, it's gonna come back. It's gonna come back, it's his
child. You can tell, look at... JUDGE LAKE: And so you just felt like you didn't have to tell the whole truth because you were so certain Keith Jr... ROSE: Yes. ...was... And it's just that I feel that... It feels not... That everyone's making it seem like it's cheating. I wasn't with him, it's not cheating. KEITH: That was probably... JUDGE LAKE: No, no, no, we're past the cheating part. We're on the paternity part. KEITH: And Your Honor... We're on the part where you find out you're pregnant... I wasn't married at the time. ...and you slept with
two... No, we're not on the marital part. Well, the fact is, it's his kid, 1,000% sure. JUDGE LAKE: You're that certain? ROSE: Yes. JUDGE LAKE: But you were also very certain when it came to Nivea. I remember this attitude. I don't forget, you acted just like this the last time you were in court about Nivea. Yeah, but it wasn't it. JUDGE LAKE: And it was not... No, it wasn't. People make mistakes, it's like... JUDGE LAKE: They absolutely do. They do. I'm... And that's why we're asking you in this instance, did you make any other mistakes?
Were you... Were you in a position where you may not know who Keith's biological father is? I mean, Mr. McCrory is truly doubting you. He didn't doubt... JUDGE LAKE: Because... ...the whole time we were together, the whole time the kid's been born, he hasn't doubted that kid at all until this last case with Nivea. And then you're gonna bring it up? Why didn't he bring it up a long time ago? See, I didn't... JUDGE LAKE: Because he didn't know you cheated, right? Right. He didn't know you... Let me rephrase, he didn't know you slept with
someone else when you were broken up, am I correct? Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: Because you said the bed wasn't even cold yet? KEITH: Yes, Your Honor. And see, the thing is, she... The potential father, she would promise him, say she'd send him pictures and stuff like that but she said, she promised me she wasn't sending him pictures. What kind of pictures are these? Your Honor, I have pictures that she puts on Facebook all the time that... You know, some of them are old but some of them were recent. I mean... JUDGE LAKE: Let me
see those, Ron, even though I'm not sure... (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) ...I want to. KEITH: I mean, Your Honor... There you go. ...that these are not pictures that a husband would want... Thank you. ...on her Facebook, I mean... So these are photos that you're afraid she's also sending to men? ROSE: <i> There's nothing wrong with that picture.</i> KEITH: <i> Yes, Your Honor.</i> ROSE: <i> No, because it's not...</i> KEITH: I <i> mean, the first one was just...</i> (AUDIENCE MURMURING) <i> The first one was just, like, not too long ago.</i> ROSE: <i> And those pictures, I mean, I wasn't
even with him.</i> KEITH: <i> The first one...</i> ROSE: <i> And that's just...</i> ROSE: <i> Those pictures have been on Facebook...</i> KEITH: <i> ...was like less than six months ago.</i> ...for years and I don't do that stuff no more. The first one was, like, probably, like, less than six or seven months ago. No, those pictures are not six, seven months ago. Those are, it was... The one with the with the top that you just... There's nothing wrong with that picture... You just bought that... There's no different if a girl puts a bikini on and takes a
picture on Facebook. What's... It's a... It's a sports bra. So... Listen, Mr. McCrory, even though as a husband, you may not want your wife posting these kind of photos, I don't think the photos alone are evidence that Keith Jr. may not be your biological child but I do believe the fact that she admittedly slept with someone without protection, this guy, during the time you all were on this break is reason to doubt. KEITH: Yes, Your Honor. This was supposed to be my friend and her friend, he comes over our house, he chills out, he would
come to the house and drink with us, and crash on the couch for the night. And this is the person she slept with? KEITH: Yes, Your Honor. If she's lying to me and it's not my son, I'm not gonna stay with her. I'm gonna leave her. I mean, I'm not gonna be with somebody who lied to me about my son. So the stakes are that high? KEITH: Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: How long have you guys been married? We've been married for three years, been together for four. Really? And so you all are raising these
two children together, <i> you have this beautiful son,</i> you love him dearly. KEITH: (SOFTLY) Yes. But now, you have questions regarding his paternity? Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: And so now, the marriage is on the rocks, you have absolutely no trust now? KEITH: Yes, no trust at all, Your Honor. ROSE: He's not really one to talk. Well, it's, like, how would I know what he's doing for the four days? He could've been doing something. KEITH: I never slept with anybody, Your Honor. You just chat with girls, went with them. Well, you know what, Ms. McCrory?
You're right. But if you haven't heard about any babies being born as a result of it... How would I know? You know, you never know. But I'm saying you wouldn't... ROSE: Not with him. ...if you do, you're welcome to come back, but in this instance, we're talking about Keith Jr. I mean, that's why we're here. ROSE: Shouldn't we... JUDGE LAKE: Because... That's... ROSE: We shouldn't even be here right now. My name is on the birth certificate, I have that with me here today. You brought the birth certificate? KEITH: Yeah, I got a copy of that.
Let me see that. Ron, can you hand it to me? I mean... And that's... I was excited when Keith was born. I've always wanted a son that I can give my last name to that can share that bond of a Junior, and that can pass it on to his son. The truth is, because she did have unprotected sex with somebody else, it's possible that this little boy is not yours. Yes, Your Honor. And that's been eating away at you. KEITH: Yes, Your Honor. Going through all this, Your Honor, it's... It made me, kind of, think
about things, like... Because, I mean, there was a time and period... (SOBBING) I'm not standing here. JUDGE LAKE: Ms. McCrory, give yourself a minute and then come back in, let's finish this case. ROSE: (SOBBING) Here, come on, don't cry. Come on, let's go. I'll get you... I'll get you a tissue to wipe your... Mr. McCrory, this is the reason why you asked the court for a lie detector test? Yes, Your Honor. Because you don't have any trust? I don't have any trust. JUDGE LAKE: Come on back in. (SOBBING) Stand over here. (SNIFFLES) There, just breathe.
What's making you so emotional, ma'am? Because it's his kid. And what, you just feel like, you're getting... You're beat down by the accusations or what... You have so much on you because everything didn't turn out the way you thought with Nivea, then you come back home... Yeah, because I feel bad that I don't know who her dad is. JUDGE LAKE: <i> And that case,</i> <i> you feel, like, affected the way</i> your husband feels about your son? ROSE: Yes. JUDGE LAKE: And that's upsetting you? ROSE: Yes, it does. You know, I would... I would think that
way, I mean, like I said, like, in the beginning, it was positive, this one, but there's other options, and then towards the... Like, at the time of court and after court, it was bouncing back and forth, you know, "Let's write this person, let's write that person." And then talking to, you know, the possible... Of Nivea, you know, the possible father, writing back and forth about, "Your kid looks like my kid." Of course I'm gonna do that when I'm trying to find out who her dad is. KEITH: You know what? ROSE: She has the right to
know just, like, he has the right to know, when he's gonna look stupid because it's his kid. JUDGE LAKE: But we're in court today, talking about Keith Jr., and the truth is, is that there is at least one other possible father for Keith Jr. ROSE: Not to me, no. He is his father. But we've heard this before, Ms. McCrory. KEITH: And then your... And it didn't turn out the way you said. ROSE: It does now. And that's what is making him so nervous. The other thing that makes me nervous is that the other possibility is
still on her Facebook today. So it concerns you that she's still in contact... KEITH: Yes. ...with this person? Well, I'm going to always be in contact with the person. I tried to tell him about it just in case it wasn't. But I know 1,000% sure he's the father, and he's gonna look stupid. So, Mr. McCrory, you asked Ms. McCrory to submit to a lie detector test. (ROSE SNIFFLES) <i> We have administered that lie detector test</i> <i> and I have the results for you.</i> Would you like to hear them? Yes, Your Honor. Ron, the envelope, please.
These results were prepared by a licensed polygraph examiner. Before I read these results, Ms. McCrory, what do you expect that we will find out? The truth on it all. I'm not lying about anything. Okay. Ms. McCrory, you were asked from 2013 until the present, have you slept with anyone other than one man you admitted to your husband? You admitted that you did. Yeah, I did. (AUDIENCE GROANING) JUDGE LAKE: Who is that person? Just someone else. Just... There was mistakes when I got together, so he shouldn't be able to... Shaking his head because he's no better.
JUDGE LAKE: All right. Ms. McCrory, you were then asked if you sent racy pictures to anyone other than your husband in the last four years. You... Admitted that you did. (AUDIENCE GROANING) Ms. McCrory, you were asked if you had sexual intercourse with the other possible father of Keith Jr. other than the two times you previously admitted, you said no. (SNIFFLES) The lie detector determined you were being deceptive. What? What the heck is that? Lying. No, that's not... That don't make no sense. So is there anything you'd like to add? Do you have anything you wanna
share? Do you wanna share with your husband, maybe something you haven't told him to let him know that you're trying to be truthful? ROSE: I am truthful. I've been truthful... Well, I mean, other than that lie... (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) I'm not gonna... I mean, it's not... (CHUCKLES) It's not really a lie because it's, like, we weren't together and then... And then we got back together. Why should I have to tell him? Maybe because... ROSE: Because it's... ...the child he thinks as his child may not be? ROSE: No. I'm 1,000% sure it's his child. <i> I'm not
worried about it.</i> JUDGE LAKE: <i> Well, he literally</i> <i> has tears in his eyes in this moment, and he's worried.</i> You act like you don't care. I do care. I do care. JUDGE LAKE: But he's worried. You have an interesting way of showing it. I do care. What are you feeling in this moment, Mr. McCrory? Like, hurt, I mean... Just confused. I mean, I don't know, like, where the trust is here. You know, I've even had somebody come up to me in a grocery store and, you know, just laugh at me and say, "Oh, you're
with Rose?" And I said, yeah. And he's, like... (LAUGHS) "I slept with her, you know, a few months back." No, that's not true. And, you know, she says... I never slept with him. She says that he's just saying that he wants to sleep with her, that she never touched him. He hung out before I was in the picture. So after you hear these results, do they further compound the doubt you were feeling when you walked into this courtroom today? Yes, Your Honor, they do. JUDGE LAKE: Do you understand how this led you to this point
in your marriage, Ms. McCrory? Do you get it? I get it, it's just, I don't understand, like, why we're even here. Wow. Because, it's just... KEITH: I want a son that I can actually see, that I could play baseball with. I mean, I still love my son and I... I'm still there for him. But I wanna raise... My son, Keith, I want to give him my last name, and have him give the Junior on to his son, to play ball with him, to, you know, toss the baseball, you know, play sports with. And I can
see from the tears in your eyes that the fear that they may... That may not ever happen. Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: It's bothering you. I can tell. I understand. Ms. McCrory, do you understand his fear at all? ROSE: Well, yeah, I mean, yeah. I can understand his fear a little bit. I mean, because if I slept with somebody, a possibility... Okay, maybe it is but it's just... I believe 1,000% it's his child. He looks just like him. And the thing that she doesn't get is, I should've been able to make that decision. I don't
think it's... You don't think it's his, that it's possibly yours. I should've been able to hear that. We should've been able to get through that. It should have been, you know, "Hey, two weeks ago, there is a possibility. "I did do this," you know. JUDGE LAKE: I understand. Well, you know what, that's why I'm here, to bring clarity to a cloudy situation. Ron, I'm ready for the envelope. RON: Yes, ma'am. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) These results are prepared by DNA Diagnostics and they read as follows. In the case of<i> McCrory v. McCrory,</i> when it comes to three-year-old
Keith McCrory Jr... It has been determined by this court, Mr. McCrory, you... ...are the father. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) ROSE: See? I told you so. JUDGE LAKE: Congratulations. Thank you, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: I'm happy for you. You have a beautiful little boy, you have Nivea, and you're married, for better or for worse, this may be your worst. I wanna talk to you all in my chambers. I do. Do you understand? Yes, I do. Yes, Your Honor. Meet me there. Court is adjourned. Ms. Chatman, you and the defendant have an older child together, but you've brought him
to court to prove your 2-year-old son, <i> Maurice Hayes Jr. is his.</i> CHATMAN: <i> Yes, Your Honor.</i> JUDGE LAKE: You claim he was excited during your pregnancy, named your baby, but now denies him, because he has a new girlfriend. Yes. JUDGE LAKE: Now, Mr. Hayes, you say you've always doubted paternity of Maurice Jr. Yes. And you're just trying to do the right thing, by signing the birth certificate, but you now say that he is not yours, and you want the plaintiff to change his name, when the paternity test proves he's not your junior. Yes, Your
Honor. JUDGE LAKE: So, Ms. Chatman, tell us why do you feel Mr. Hayes needs to just step up and be a father? Because, if he can take care of somebody else's child, why can't he take care of his own child? (APPLAUDING) JUDGE LAKE: And, so you submit today that he's taking care of someone else's child. CHATMAN: Yes, Your Honor. But, not doing anything for the child he fathered with you. CHATMAN: Not Maurice Jr. Explain. He's not doing nothing for Maurice Jr. He barely does for Mariah, like for instance, on Christmas, he brought Mauriah five presents.
<i> Didn't bring Maurice Jr. nothing.</i> JUDGE LAKE: <i> For Christmas?</i> CHATMAN: <i> Yes.</i> JUDGE LAKE: <i> Nothing?</i> CHATMAN: <i> Nothing.</i> Is that true, Mr. Hayes? HAYES: No ma'am, she's telling lies, Your Honor. I bought actually six gifts, I gave him one and gave her five, and I held both of them and gave both of them hugs. But, you clearly have doubt around Maurice Jr. HAYES: Yes ma'am. JUDGE LAKE: Tell me about that doubt. The only reason why I have doubt is because when I was asking her if she's pregnant, she was like, "No." And I
got a piece of letter in the mail, saying that she was pregnant. But, she also still was in denial, so, when I'd say she was like four months, and my mother asked, "So, was she pregnant?" She says, no, she's not. So, I still was like, "Okay, how you not pregnant?" And I got a letter in the mail. So, why all this confusion? I don't know, because she was talking to another guy, and I guess she was scared to tell me about it. I don't know. Ms. Chatman, why all this back and forth? "I am pregnant.
I am not pregnant." Because, yeah, true enough, I told him I wasn't pregnant, because I just had Mauriah, for four months. So why be that way? She was only four months. And I was pregnant again, so I didn't know. I didn't know if I wanted to keep him, to be honest, or what. So, we talked about it and we got back together. So, he came back. CHATMAN: Yes. After he found out you were pregnant? CHATMAN: Yes. Did it seem as if he accepted the pregnancy? He went to every doctor appointment that I had. Since we
got back together... HAYES: Just a minute... (APPLAUDING) I had no symptoms, I had none of this. In your mind, your baby's on the way. Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: You're at the hospital, the baby's born. Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: You decide, "I am signing the birth certificate." Yes, Your Honor. You didn't think at that moment that you needed a DNA test? You didn't have a doubt? HAYES: She told me that it was my baby. And I took responsibility and moved back in. That's when I started having doubts when he came home, but when I
was holding him, I was telling her that I am not the father, I never had symptoms, you know, I never felt any type of weight. What symptoms were you suppose to have? (CROWD LAUGHING) Like, you know, cravings, I gained weight. When your girlfriend was pregnant the first time, you gained weight, but this time, you didn't have the same symptoms. You didn't eat, you didn't have any cravings. No ma'am. And you believe, it was because it wasn't your child. Yes, Your Honor. Well, that's a first, Jerome. (CROWD LAUGHING) CHATMAN: Okay I have... Definitely they first time
I've ever heard that. I have something for you. JUDGE LAKE: Yes, I'd like to see that evidence. Jerome, will you hand it to me, please? What is this, ma'am? In the state of Tennessee, once you sign the birth certificate... HAYES: And that's what she's using against me. CHATMAN: <i> They tell you, that once you sign the birth certificate,</i> <i> it voids off DNA paternity testing.</i> JUDGE LAKE: <i> So, this is a pamphlet.</i> CHATMAN: <i> Yes, ma'am.</i> It says, "For your child's sake, establish paternity." CHATMAN: Yes. And it's basically, and entire pamphlet with passages highlighted, that
talk about the issues you need to consider, as it relates to paternity, signing a birth certificate, and if you have doubt, how you should not sign the birth certificate. It says, "Parents should think carefully before acknowledging paternity. "If either of you do change your mind, "you have 60 days to rescind the acknowledgment in writing. "If either parent has any doubts about who the father is, "no forms should be signed." I was just trying to be a good guy. Your Honor, that's all. Your Honor? JUDGE LAKE: You're acknowledging you saw this pamphlet? Yes ma'am, she explained
all of it to me. I was just trying to be a good guy. Two weeks! He said he waited until the baby was two weeks, to say the baby is not his. That paper says 60 days. Why did he not write mail? (APPLAUDING) JUDGE LAKE: Very good questions, Ms. Chatman. Mr. Hayes, why didn't you rescind your acknowledgment, if you felt in two weeks that the baby really didn't look like you, and you don't remember having the symptoms? (CROWD LAUGHING) Because, when I went to juvenile court they said I had to get a DNA. I had
to pay for a DNA and I didn't have no job at the time. What is this about, "I am just trying to be a nice guy?" Because, it doesn't matter if you're a nice guy in the hospital, but then you're a no show guy after you leave. (APPLAUDING) JUDGE LAKE: What's the point? You're right. You're right, Your Honor. CHATMAN: I have something for you. JUDGE LAKE: What else do you have, Ms. Chatman? He's saying this is not his son? What is this, ma'am? It's a Facebook post that he posted off his page, about his son.
HAYES: That was the first little boy I had with her. That's the one that died. That's December the 11th, 2012. That's the baby that died. That's 2012. "God blessed me with my son yesterday." CHATMAN: If he died that day, why did you say, "God blessed me with my son yesterday." JUDGE LAKE: <i> This post says, "God blessed me with my son yesterday."</i> <i> Did you write this?</i> Uh-uh. I don't remember writing nothing like that. I have something else for you, ma'am. JUDGE LAKE: Yes. (CROWD LAUGHING) CHATMAN: Here you go, um... What else do you have,
Ms. Chatman? It's a picture of Maurice Jr. He claimed that he didn't have that Facebook. Oh, yes he did, because there goes his nametag then and right there. JUDGE LAKE: <i> He's here?</i> CHATMAN: <i> Yes.</i> JUDGE LAKE: <i> And you tagged...</i> CHATMAN: <i> Maurice...</i> Maurice Hayes, here. CHATMAN: Yes. JUDGE LAKE: On the picture. And what you're saying is that this is the same Facebook name that's used on the previous text. "Maurice Playareese Hayes." CHATMAN: Yes, Playareese. HAYES: Yes, Your Honor. HAYES: Your Honor, the only reason why I just really had doubts was because when she
asked me over to her dad's house, after she left, I had seen another guy coming out of the house. So, when I walked in to the door, I explained to her, I asked her, I said, "Who is that guy?" She said, "That's my daddy's friend." I said, "You dad don't hang around with young dudes." So she said, "Oh, they just work together, it ain't nothing." But, the whole time it was the same guy that's currently calling my phone, and telling me, "Hey, uh, your baby mama, this and that. "Your baby mama this and that." I
said, "Hey, how did you get my number?" JUDGE LAKE: What's this and that? He was saying that, uh, he's the daddy, and... I am trying to see my son and she won't let me. And, you know, I had met him one time at the barber shop, and then when we started talking, he was showing me Facebook messages, where Kecia had inboxed him saying, "Come get your child." Why you didn't bring him? I ain't go to bring nothing, you already known what was going on. But, Ms. Chatman, did you tell another man through Facebook to come
and get his child? I never told another man to come and get his child. And the day that he's talking about, he came over and saw that guy in my house, he brought her with him over there. So, Ms. Chatman, whether or not he was your boyfriend, at that point, was there any other possible father, is what I am trying to understand. I was talking to the guy that he was talking about, but not around the time that the doctor said that I conceived. No. So you were intimate with someone else. Yes. But, you're saying
that wasn't during the window of conception. No ma'am. So, you do understand, why he could have a doubt, but you're saying his dates are off. CHATMAN: I understand. She used my mom's phone, to talk to other guys. CHATMAN: I sure did... I never said nothing about that, I ain't know what was going on with it, I just left it alone. And, you know, now that the baby is here, now she's trying to wonder why, you know, I am not stepping to the plate, because you don't have so many guys in the picture. CHATMAN: Okay. I
don't know what to do. What about Mauriah? You barely do stuff for her. You said if I can't go get one, don't do for the other, so I just left both of them alone. I bring shoes and clothes every time I get paid. Here's the witness, right here. Every time I get paid, I bring shoes and clothes. WEBB: This is how she gets all the shoes. She stopped me in my tracks. All right, let's get this clear. Let's get this clear. She had Pumas. We buy her Jordans. Pumas and Jordans... White Air Force 1s. Black
Air Force 1s... I never saw no white Air Force 1s, or black Air Force 1s, and the ones that I did I bought it by my pocket. All right, there's nothing that gets on my last nerve more than people talking about what designer shoe a baby has and they don't even have a daddy! (APPLAUDING) I don't care about the shoes! It's about finding out... HAYES: Exactly. Whether or not you are Maurice Jr.'s father. WEBB: He been there for her. He barely do... JUDGE LAKE: I wanna hear from her. I wanna hear from her. Ma'am, please
stand up to the podium. JUDGE LAKE: Your name, Ma'am? WEBB: Jennifer. Jennifer? Webb. Ms. Webb. WEBB: Webb. JUDGE LAKE: And you are now Mr. Hayes'... Baby mother. JUDGE LAKE: You're his child's mother? Mmm-hmm. And you all are in a relationship now? What do you know about the paternity of Maurice Jr.? One day, when I had Maurice's phone, I guess the guy she was messin' with was supposed to be the baby daddy, whoever. He texts the phone and says, "Can you tell your baby mama, can I see my baby?" It was a long paragraph. It was
telling him about he was messing with Kecia then. Kecia wasn't going to her daddy's house, she was going to the club, leaving the club, going to his house. That's when he text to the phone. Oh, he was texting Mr. Hayes directly? This is my first time hearing about it. Saying, "I would like to see my child." And he was talking about Maurice Jr.? WEBB: <i> Yes ma'am.</i> CHATMAN: <i> This is my first time I'm hearing about this.</i> JUDGE LAKE: <i> And so, when you saw this text,</i> did you confront Ms. Chatman? Yes ma'am, yes ma'am.
JUDGE LAKE: What did you say? I called, I said, "How did the guy get my number?" She said, "I don't know. I don't know!" So, I don't know what him and Kecia had going, but, you know, I'm just trying to get to the bottom of it... But, when's the last time he's seen your children? She won't let him. Because of the baby. Thank you. Thank you. "If you can't get one, you can't get the other." JUDGE LAKE: So, Ms. Chatman, you've created a condition, that he cannot see Mauriah, the older child, unless he also takes
Maurice Jr. Yes, because he will come and give Mauriah things, take her, but leave him with broken promises. WEBB: He had doubts. It don't matter. Why's he promising, "I'm gonna come back and get him, I'm gonna come back and get you," (SPEAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY) Well what he lying for, though? Mr. Hayes, you admit that you've made the effort to see your daughter, because you are sure that she's your biological child? But, you leave Maurice Jr. behind... HAYES: Yes, Your Honor. Because you are doubtful about his paternity? HAYES: Yes, Your Honor. And, you also have made the
mistake of telling Maurice Jr. you were going to come back for him, and never show up, because that's how you get Mauriah. Yes, Your Honor. What evidence do you have that you'd like to show the court? I can give you... JUDGE LAKE: Jerome, may I see that, please? Saying if I can't get... This is a copy of a text log that says, <i> "Not her today.</i> <i> "I'm cumm to get her tomorrow.</i> <i> "I got something to do today."</i> Mmm-hmm. Yep. JUDGE LAKE: You write back, Ms. Chatman, <i> "Her or them?"</i> CHATMAN: <i> Yes.</i> JUDGE
LAKE: <i> And then, you write back,</i> <i> no, you write back, "Her."</i> Yes. JUDGE LAKE: And then, you write back, "You might as... "Might as well forget about it. "Bye." CHATMAN: Yes. Because you're serious. Yes. JUDGE LAKE: If he's not coming to get both children, then he can't see either one. Yes. Is it fair, though? I mean, think about it. You signed the birth certificate. HAYES: You're right, Your Honor. The child has your name. Yes, ma'am. What's the harm in just picking him up? CHATMAN: He force denying it. (APPLAUDING) HAYES: There's too many dudes in
the picture. I'm not taking no child that ain't mine, Your Honor. I'm just being real. I work too hard for my little money. Listen, all this about "I just wanted to be a good guy," what happened to that person? That just wanted to be a good guy? (APPLAUDING) I stepped out of her life, Your Honor, for a simple fact, because she left one night and said, "Maurice, can I go to the club?" I said, "Yeah, you can go." Left me there with Junior and Mauriah. Woke up the next morning, she wasn't there. Hopped in the
car, going to look for her. She over at another guy's house. You know... When I came to the door, knocked on the door, Kecia in there with some dude. I heard, "Oh, eh, well, eh, you don't need to be here, man. "This ain't that." So, I said, "Man, I don't want no confusion." HAYES: She... Listen, we can tell that the relationship, didn't have an ounce of commitment in it. I'm just trying to understand his doubt. What other information, evidence, do we have, that relates to the paternity issue? Do you have something, ma'am? CHATMAN: Yes, ma'am.
What is it? Jerome, will you pass this to me? It's a Facebook post he made, in his name, right there, Maurice Hayes, the time y'all was broke up, when you put that picture, JUDGE LAKE: <i> So, this one says, "Daddy time with the kids.</i> <i> "Gotta love them."</i> WEBB: That was in my house, they won't tell you... CHATMAN: You wasn't there! That's what's up. That's good! Damn right! All right, ladies, watch your language in the courtroom. I've heard enough, I am ready for the results. Jerome, please hand me the envelope. (APPLAUDING) And please stand between
the plaintiff and defendant for these results. I don't want anybody getting out of hand. Let's stay composed. These results were prepared by DNA Diagnostics and they read as follows. In the case of<i> Chatman v. Hayes,</i> as it pertains to 2-year-old Maurice Hayes Jr., it has been determined by this court, Mr. Hayes, you are not the father. (CROWD GASPING) Thank you, Your Honor. CHATMAN: That's fine, he can have his money back. That's fine. WEBB: But you took him through all this? Yes I took him through that, but did I not say I was with somebody else,
though? Did I not say that? Not with nobody else, but... WEBB: Oh, you didn't say that. (CROWD GASPING) You funny, Kecia. Before we start getting silly to save face, the point is it's not his child. CHATMAN: Okay. He'd been through all this, the man's got tears in his eyes. Mr. Hayes, you're very emotional. What are you feeling? She kept me from seeing my daughter for so long. CHATMAN: You're right. (SOBBING) And, just put me through so much. (SOBBING) I ain't seen my daughter in two or three months. And like, it really gets to me, because
that's my baby and I'd do anything for her, but she said if I can't get one, I can't get the other one. But, here it is today, I am not the father, like I said before. You all have got to figure out how to work through this now. You have a child together, Mauriah. Is this other gentleman the only other possible father? So, he is Maurice Jr.'s biological father? Yes. What I'm trying to get to is that this is madness. It is, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: And, let me be clear, now that we've determined in
this court, that you are not in fact Maurice Jr.'s biological father, that's not going to automatically cut you off from responsibility for that child support, because you signed the birth certificate. So, what I am saying is this doesn't end today. The truth has come out today, but this isn't the end, this is the beginning. Ms. Smith, you say you've been waiting your entire life for the truth. And opened your case to prove that Mr. Lewis is your biological father. You claim you are tired of his back and forth, as it pertains to paternity, and hope
today's results will prove what you already know. -Is that correct? -Yes, Your Honor. Mr. Lewis, you claim that years of doubt have caused you to question paternity and unfortunately, you don't believe that Brittaney is your daughter. -Is that correct? -[Lewis] Yes, Your Honor. All right, so, Ms. Smith, why is today so important? Today is important to me, so I can get closure. Because he's always going back and forth for why he's not my father. He didn't sign my birth certificate. When he wants something, I'm his daughter, when he don't get what he want, I'm not
his daughter. He just been a big absence in my life. And I read in the court papers that it hurts you that no one's on your birth certificate. -[Smith]<i> Yeah.</i> -[Judge Lake]<i> It really bothers you.</i> -[Smith]<i> Yes.</i> -[Judge Lake]<i> Tell the court.</i> [Smith]<i> It hurt me so bad,</i> because I don't wanna have a family of my own, because he been denying me my whole life. -[audience] Aw. -[Lewis] Aw. Mr. Lewis, when you hear Ms. Smith speak like this, what's your response? [Lewis] Your Honor, first of all, her mom, me and her, we got to dating.
Wasn't no relationship goin' on, it was just a hit-and-quit thing. [audience exclaiming] It was just a hit-and-quit thing, that was all it was. [Judge Lake] But there's a whole bunch here in this world from a hit it and quit, 'cause you can make a baby right quick. [Lewis] True. Right quick. That's true. So what does that explain? I agree with you 100 percent. She's not my daughter. [audience exclaims] -[Smith sniffling] -She's not mine. Nothing like me, nothing like me. She's not my daughter. Period. She's not mine. And so... I wanna understand this. You had a
relationship with her mother and you admit that. At what point did you find out she was pregnant? Well... I had moved out of town... I had moved out of town, friend of mine I had ran into told me that, uh, Liz was pregnant. Okay, when I came back to Cleveland, Ohio... Moved back to Cleveland, Ohio, I ran into another friend of mine, he said that Liz had a daughter, baby girl. And it's supposed to be your daughter. So... [Judge Lake] What happened? [Lewis] So I got a baby, I'm a real man, I go and see.
My ex-wife right here, me and her, we was together, we went up there to see what was going on. When we went up there, I remember good as day... When we went up there, it was a conflict going on between Liz and her mother. Okay? So, at that time, Britanney was about... She was about three days old. -Three or four days old. -Okay. So I asked Liz, "Let's talk and understand what's going on." They had nowhere to go. I took Brittaney. [audience exclaims] Took Brittaney to my home. Did you think at that time, "This is
my daughter, so I'm taking her?" No, I did not want Brittaney to be in the system, because her mother deals with the system. [audience exclaiming] [Judge Lake]<i> That's commendable. It really is.</i> So, Brittaney, I want to understand from you, growing up, were you told your whole life that Mr. Lewis was your biological father? -[Smith] Yes. -Tell me what were you told? My mother always told me that he was my father. She had no denial of him not being the father, she hasn't messed with nobody else. And I just feel like... She was the neighborhood pro.
-[audience exclaims] -[Lewis laughs] -[Judge Lake] Hold on there. -Excuse me. -[Judge Lake] Let's be respectful. -Okay. Excuse me. And I just don't understand for him to sit here today, or stand here today and take a child that you don't think that's yours. Why would you even do that? [audience applauding] [Judge Lake] So how long was this? How long did you have Brittaney, Mr. Lewis? How long was she in your custody? I had Brittaney, uh... Like I said, she was three... Three, four days old until Brittaney got, uh, about ten, eleven, off and on, because her
mother would come get her. [Judge Lake] So, wait a minute. You're saying you took care of Brittaney for ten years of her life? -On and off? -On and off, ma'am, yeah. -[Judge Lake] As her father? -Yes, ma'am. [Judge Lake] Did you call him, "Daddy"? Yes. [Judge Lake] So what kind of memories do you have with Mr. Lewis? What do you remember? Him trying to be a fake father to me my whole life. -[audience exclaiming] -A fake father. [Judge Lake] Why do you say "a fake father"? Explain. I see this... 'Cause one minute he was there,
and the next minute, he wasn't. -Like he was a ghost. -[audience exclaims] I just don't understand how you can take somebody and treat them like your daughter sometimes and then the rest of the time they're not. Because your mother should've came forward and said something, that's why. And he always stood me up. He never... He waited... Made me wait 25 years to get a test. I've been trying to pay for a test, he wouldn't do it. -[audience exclaiming] -Wow. So, Mr. Lewis, this is interesting to me, because, if, in fact you truly believe you were
not Ms. Smith's biological father, and she's asking you over and over again to get a test... If you're that sure, why not take the test so you can get the clarity. [audience applauding] -Your Honor... -She says you were avoiding the test. [Lewis] Your Honor, I never avoided no test. I never avoided no test. If that was the case, I would've took the test. You know who her father is? Could you give this to her, please? Jerome, let me see Mr. Lewis' evidence, please. -Thank you. -And, Your Honor, you tell me... [scoffs] You look at her
and you tell me... This is a photo of a man. [Lewis] Yes. That's the man that I... <i> That's the man... Yeah, tell me about it, Your Honor.</i> <i> Yeah, yeah, tell me.</i> You believe this is her biological father? [Lewis] That is her father. You know why I say that? Because that's a statement of fact, 'cause I caught him and her mom having sex. First of all, how do you know this man? [Lewis] That is my great-great uncle. [audience exclaiming] My great... I pulled up in the yard, family house, the door was cracked, it was
open, I walk in, the bed is sitting right there, right in front of the door, small apartment... -Smacking, they're getting it. -[audience exclaims] They're getting it. Next thing I know... He hear a door open, he turn around and look and see me, she raise her head up. All I did was look and shook my head and walked out. Wait. So, Mr. Lewis, you're saying you walked in, and she was in bed with your uncle. Yes, ma'am. And you believe Ms. Smith's father is your uncle. Tell me. What they look like? [chuckles] [Judge Lake]<i> Ms. Smith,
have you ever heard this before?</i> [Smith] No. [Lewis] Hmm. She should know. [chuckles] She should know. I just feel like he should just man up and really just take full responsibility of his actions, 'cause I didn't ask to be here. [Lewis] And, you know what, Your Honor? If that's the case, if she's my daughter, yes, I will stand up. I want her in my life. If she's mine. You can't deny nobody if you don't have facts first. But that's her dad right there. That's her dad right there. [Judge Lake] So, Mr. Lewis, do you agree
with Ms. Smith's testimony that you were inconsistent raising her? She says sometimes you were there, sometimes you a ghost. -Yeah, that's true. -[Judge Lake] Why is that? Was it because of the doubt? It was because of the doubt and plus, I was in and out of town, I stayed in Cleveland, I got family in Georgia, moved out here to Georgia, you know. So, yes, I was gone. Yes, I was. I was gone, but she was getting things from her mother, Her mother was pumping her head up with things, you know. Pumpin' her head up with
things instead of telling her the real deal that she was nothing but a street hood. -[audience exclaiming] -You know, I mean, that was it. That's her father right there, though. Well, I need you to stop putting her mother down, because you slept with her. -Well, yeah. -[Judge Lake] And... -[audience applauding] -Yes, I did. Yes, I did. -[Judge Lake] So, therefore... -Yes, I did. Okay. So let's get that straight. -[Lewis] Okay. -And so, let's not downgrade a woman in the court room unnecessarily, because at the end of the day, Ms. Smith, your mother maintained without a
doubt that Mr. Lewis was your biological father. -Yes, Your Honor. -[Judge Lake] She never told you any different? -No. -You were consistently over at his home with his ex-wife, you were there? Yes. So, tell Mr. Lewis, what do you want today? Tell him. -If he is my father-- -Turn to him and tell him. If you are my father, I want you to sign my birth certificate. And I want nothing else besides that. [audience applauding] We'll soon find out. So, Ms. Smith, you've brought two witnesses. I'd like to hear from them. Ms. Moore, will you please
stand and step over to the podium? And, Ms. Lewis, please step up to the podium. Ms. Moore, I'd like to ask you what do you know about this case? He had brought me his daughter. He told me he had a daughter. And I seen Brittaney for the first time and I said, "Well, she looks just like you." And just to be clear, you are Mr. Lewis' ex-wife? [Moore] Yes, I am. And I start, you know, um, consuming that what he said, this was his daughter, so I took care of her for a long time. Did
he tell you when he brought you the baby, "This is my daughter," or, "This might be my daughter"? He say it was his daughter. -[Judge Lake] All right. -Ooh! You never looked at her and said, "Well, no, she doesn't look like you to me, she's not yours"? You didn't doubt it? -No, I did not. -[Lewis] Several times. I doubted several times, but I didn't really doubt it, because she looked like him. -[Judge Lake]<i> Ms. Lewis.</i> -[Moeisha]<i> Hi.</i> [Judge Lake]<i> Thank you for joining us.</i> What's your relationship with Ms. Smith? [Moeisha] She is my sister. And
the reason why I say that is because... I mean, my dad, he good at that. It's like, he got a paternity test... For the record, I just want to be clear. -You are Mr. Lewis' daughter. -[Moeisha] Yes. That's my baby. Yeah. -And Ms. Moore is your mother. -Yes, Your Honor. All right. So you say Brittaney, Ms. Smith is your sister. [Moeisha] Yes, Your Honor. -[Judge Lake] And you said that clearly. -Yes. [Judge Lake] Please explain to the Court. Because, first of all, Your Honor, he is good at doing that as in, like, he got a
paternity test with me. -[audience exclaiming] -And it's so hard to explain because... I... [sighs] Um... [Lewis] See, you can't even say it. Because, I mean, it's just so sad, 'cause she... Like I said, because I already grew up with Brittaney, and I'm... It's sad because... I can hear the pain in your voice. [Moeisha] Yes, 'cause... Why are you so hurt? Tell the Court. -[Lewis] Mmm. -'Cause I can see it. 'Cause I love Brittaney to death. And, like, I just want her to stop feeling like she alone. She not alone. Like, he put us through the
same thing that you're going through. He put us through the same thing. And it's sad, because he say he so much a real man, <i> but how are you such a real man,</i> <i> look what you're doing to your own kids.</i> -[audience applauding] -It hurts. It hurts a lot. It really do. Like... [Moore] You'll still be my daughter. [Moeisha] And I hope Brittaney understand that no matter what... [Moore] She'll still be my daughter. ...she's gonna always be my sister, no matter what, Brittaney, I promise. No matter what. [Moore] You'll always, no matter what, you'll always
be my daughter. -[Moeisha] I love you. -[sobbing] [Moore] And I accept her that way. Yeah, she's been around since she was two, three years. I mean, two, three days. I'm pretty sure. [Judge Lake] Brittaney, how does it feel in this moment to stand between two beautiful women who say, regardless, you're still gonna be their family? And yet, I can see from your reaction, that you feel... You feel isolated and alone. I just feel so numb. It's at a point where my whole body just feel like it's flatlined. [sniffles] You've been waiting for 25 years. [Smith]
Yes. [Judge Lake] You've had this doubt... You can't remember a time when you didn't have this doubt. No. [Judge Lake] And you've had to live with it? Yes. [Judge Lake] No child and no adult should have to live with the pain of this kind of doubt. That's what paternity secrets and paternity issues do. And that's why we're here to get down to the bottom of it. I have the results for you. Jerome, may I have the envelope, please. [audience applauding] These results were prepared by DNA Diagnostics and they read as follows. In the case of<i>
Smith v. Lewis,</i> when it comes to 25-year-old Brittaney Smith... It has been determined by this Court... Mr. Lewis, you... are not the father. -[audience exclaims] -Right. Ta-da. That's her father right there. -[sobbing] -That's him right there. [Moore] Oh, my God. -[Lewis] Thank you. -Are you all right? You truly thought this was the biological father? Yes. And you know what, Your Honor, it's so bad, because Brittaney, she used to call and disrespect me and now she can't get mad at me no more. Who can she get mad at now? -Her mother. -[Judge Lake] Listen, listen. -Mr.
Lewis. -[Lewis] I'm just... -[Judge Lake] Mr. Lewis. -Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. [Judge Lake] You're doing too much. 'Cause you know what? You had a part to play in this. So you're not gonna walk out of here with your cape on like you was the hero. -[audience applauding] -Because the real truth is, you had a part in this. And now that it has played out in the way that you testified, the truth is, is what you said has been proven in this Court. You are not her biological father, but this is not the time. I understand.
-This is not the time... -I understand. -[Judge Lake] All right? -I understand. For you to bring up the past, because we want to support and empower Brittaney in this present moment. -[Moore] Yes. -[Lewis] I understand.