Complaint Review: Amethyst Investigations - Gilbert Arizona

Ms Rebecca Watson was contracted as Court Appointed Advisor Evaluator through her company Amethyst Private Investigations.  

Ms. Watson failed to meet the basic scope of the position acting as a mental health professional as defined by Serial 11151ROQ for COURT APPOINTED ADVISOR SERVICES - OPDS with DATE OF LAST REVISION: June 20, 2012 and CONTRACT END DATE: June 30, 2015: 

2.1.1.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

To qualify for a Court Appointed Advisor contract with Maricopa County, contractor shall possess:

2.1.1.1.1 A Master’s Degree in social services, nursing psychology, education, counseling or other related field; and

2.1.1.1.2 A minimum of five years of experience working with children who are at risk of abuse or neglect.

 2.1.4.1  General Duties of Court Appointed Advisors – Contractor shall conduct interviews and investigations as are reasonable and necessary to provide a complete picture of the child/children's situation.  The investigation will likely include: a criminal background check for parents and any other pertinent people who have contact with the child/children; interviews and home visits with all of the potential care givers; examination of school and medical records; contact with state agencies and caseworkers if applicable; and interviews with therapists, drug counselors; family and relatives, as well as attorneys for the other involved parties. Contractor shall provide thorough and timely reports as directed by the Court that will include a summary of the investigation, a statement of observations, and recommendations of the Contractor. The report will be submitted to the Court within the time designated by the Court.

 Ms Watson failed to meet the scope of Minute Entry dated 03/04/2013 and signed by Judge Porter stating the following:

 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Court-Appointed Advisor shall have authority to:

a) Meet with the child(ren) at any location where the child(ren) may be located;

b) Meet and interview the parents, spouses, significant others, and all adults living in the household;

c) Visit the home(s) of the parents to determine if the environments are appropriate for the child(ren);

d) Investigate and review both parents', their spouses' and significant others' backgrounds with regard to criminal arrests and convictions;

e) Determine if drug testing by either or both parents is needed;

f) Review the child(ren)'s school/daycare records, Parenting Skills records, psychological evaluations, and counseling records;

g) Visit and interview the child(ren)'s daycare provider; and

h) Review law enforcement, court, or Child Protective Services reports concerning the child(ren).

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that any and all day care, parenting time supervisors, schools, school districts and personnel thereof shall fully cooperate with the Court-Appointed Advisor representing the child(ren) in this action by allowing the Court Appointed Advisor to interview the child(ren) and allowing access to all educational records of the child(ren), including but not limited to records pertaining to day care/school attendance, behavior, academic progress, and psychological evaluations, and shall discuss the contents and meaning thereof with him/her.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that any and all hospitals, doctors' offices and personnel thereof shall fully cooperate with the Court-Appointed Advisor representing the child(ren) in this matter by allowing access to all medical/dental records of the child(ren), including but not limited to records pertaining to diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, and shall discuss the contents and meaning thereof with him/her.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that any and all police department, sheriffs' department, law enforcement agencies, and personnel thereof shall fully cooperate with the Court-Appointed

Advisor representing the child(ren) in this matter by allowing access to all police/sheriff/law enforcement records and reports of the child(ren)'s parents, stepparents, or significant others of the parents, including but not limited to records pertaining to arrests, convictions, and narrative reports.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Child Protective Services, the Department of Economic Security, the Department of Health Services and personnel thereof shall fully cooperate with the Court-Appointed Advisor representing the child(ren) in this matter by allowing access to all records and reports of the child(ren), child(ren)'s parents, stepparents, or significant others of the parents, including but not limited to records pertaining to sexual abuse, parenting skills, behavior, psychological/psychiatric evaluations, and allegations of child abuse, sexual abuse and neglect.

The Court-Appointed Advisor shall attend all court hearings concerning the children unless excused by the Court upon written motion, and shall participate in the conduct of litigation to the extent authorized by Rule 10, Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure.

The Court-Appointed Advisor has limited immunity consistent with Arizona case law applicable to Officers of the Court as to all actions undertaken pursuant to the Court appointment and this Order. Any alleged impropriety or unethical conduct by the Court-Appointed Advisor shall be brought to the attention of the Court in writing.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED Petitioner shall be responsible for and pay $500.00 of the Court Appointed Advisor’s fees and Respondent shall be responsible for and pay $500.00 of the Court Appointed Advisor’s fees, until further order of the Court. All fees shall be paid in advance as determined by the Office of Public Defense Services.

 Ms Watson failed to meet the scope of AZ DPS Private Investigator Licensing stating the following:

 Conducting investigations in Arizona:

Anyone conducting private investigations in Arizona must be licensed in Arizona. Failure to do so can be a class 1 misdemeanor. You may hire other employees, such as office staff, but they cannot conduct private investigations in Arizona.

 Specific failures and services regarding FC2005-050133 evaluation report and processes:

 1) Mother was NEVER interviewed.  Mother requested interviews several times via email with Ms. Watson and at each court hearing.  It is a requirement per conversations with Ms Plummer in your office, the court order and the ROQ  by the State that CAA meet with the parents and interview them.  Ms. Watson acknowledged during trial dated Sept 11, 2013 that she rarely meets with the parents and only with kids at school if possible.  

2) CPS Crisis included nearly 10 cases against Father. 7 Cases were as the result of CPS processes being broken and they kept losing the report in the system regarding a picture sent to me of my 9 year old boy and 10 year old girl in the bathtub together.  

3) She ignored an affidavit from Diana Wall, MSW and Director of Juvenile Affairs at the Jewish Mental Health Center, who believed my children were in danger and advised me to contact CPS when I showed her the picture of them in the tub together at 9 and 10.  Diana knew my son had been hospitalized for 2 days as a result of Father's neglect when he was nearly two and children had been living in filth for last 8 years when they visited him and Father had recently acknowledged he had been the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of his brother.  

4) Two older siblings were never interviewed who lived with children until Dec 2012. They wrote letters to Ms Watson that I submitted to her and the courts.

3) Mother requested Ms Watson remove herself from case as a result of such actions and as evidence demonstrated she was not qualified for this job.

4) Job Description details education and career experience as a mental health professional.  All others CAA are licensed and/or practicing.  Ms. Watson has a Bachelor's in Social Work and a Masters in Forensics Sciences. She attemtped to recieve a NIPS number as a medical provider while living in California but does not have licensing or educational requirements for such.  The course work for this degree does not address psychological counseling or advisory services in any way.  She is the only individual listed on the County Court Appointed Advisors List (11151 ROQ) who does not presently or in the past have an active practice.  

5) Ms. Watson attempted to discredit a PHD licensed professional psychologist, Dr. Daniel Christiano who has been actively working with Arizona courts over the last 20 years.  Sept 11, 2013 court transcripts will demonstrate how she stated he was "cheap" and "unknown" so his report did not address the courts needs.  She went on to defame his character further by stating "I am never wrong" when questioned how she felt about his professional opinion and her's being such a stark contrast.  

6) Father's girlfriend, Isabella Caffee Tucker is constantly listed as the "Step-Mother" to my children yet she has never lived with them nor has she married or even been engaged to their Father.  Her report is incorrect as Isabella as a DUI which forced her to do 10 days in jail and still appears to be drinking per photot evidence and facebook posts.

She was never interviewed as his significant other.

7) Diane Foubert, Mother, was never interviewed.  She is the wife of a Public Official and Mayor of Yellow Springs Ohio.  CPS was notified of her assaulting my daughter in April and then I reported such to Ms Watson.  Ms. Watson interfered in the investigation and yelled at Mother "Never call CPS Ms Ridgeway" multiple times.   She was present with Father was sexually assaulted by brother.  She also set up a company in November of 2013 called JDJ, LLC, leased the Father's home for him and assisted him to avoid long standing garnishments for nearly $45000 in taxes and $4000 in back child support and present child support of $400 monthly.

8) Examination of school records never occurred as Ms. Watson stated they refused her access she stated. CPS appeared to not have this issue.  

9) Medical records were never taken from children's primary physician, per Dr. Hurley.  Children had been hospitalized for injuries in Father's care requiring oral surgury and 44 stiches.  Dr. Hurley had seen Father display emotional outburst at her office and incapable of allowing children to take vaccinations because of his political and religious views.  

10) As Father has been under psychologic care much of his adult life, his physicians were never contacted but his statement of sobriety was taken seriously.  Father had been in AA and NA for last few years yet was a known drug dealer with witnesses

11) Mother and children stated she had been abused.  Ms. Watson stated mother planted this and it never occurred yet in court stated Sophia's arm was hurt as an accident of such.  

12) Mother had no history of psychologic issues or care at any point of her 44 years or alcohol abuse or drug addiction, etc.  Yet Ms Watson took the word of a drug addict and alcoholic and the man Mother stated abused her.   A professional would have seen Dr. Christiano's report and realized an error in judgement. 

 13) Ms Watson lists civil actions under criminal actions.  

 14) Ms Watson lists fictions addresses for Mother in report.   

15) Ms. Watson never requested Income from Father or Mother.  Father stated he only made $30000 yet lived in a $1M home.  

16) Evidence provided by Father and his attorney demonstrated stalking behavior showing GPS locations etc and Ms. Watson never addressed this nor the 4 cases of abuse.

17) Ms. Watson advised Father to not allow Mother, siblings or Family members to talk to children without supervision far over stepping her qualifications.

18) The children wore ordered to see a counselor at the onset of the trial.  Ms Watson did not know the name of said counselor until 2 weeks before trial.

19) Ms Watson sent an "unlicensed" assistant to my rental home to take video which is not allowed under AZ DPS law.

20) Ms. Watson states in court on Sept 11, 2013 she refused all evidence provided by Mother in April as she thought Mother gave her computer a virus intentionally.  This was not mentioned in any of the preceding hearings from April through Sept 11, 2013.  She actually stated she did not inform me as "you are capable of a lot".As a result of her opinions, she lobbied against Dr. Christiano's opinions and the results of drug test, State Pharmaceutical Results, etc. for Mother to undergo further psychological counseling and that her visits with children only be supervised knowing firmly mother had no money to afford all this.  I am asking for your consideration in these matters to assure she is not liable for the destruction of other families.