Casey Johnson, the father of Unexpected Season 7 dad Hunter Johnson, has reportedly been awarded full custody of 14-year-old Hunter, while a judge has also allegedly ruled that the ongoing case be sealed from the public.
In a new video posted to TikTok by @MichelleAnnXO, it was reported that Casey, who was awarded emergency temporary custody of Hunter just weeks ago, has now been granted full custody of his teen-dad son– a decision that allegedly didn’t go over very well with Hunter’s mom, Stacie Riddle.
“ … What I can tell you is that Hunter’s dad did win full custody,” @MichelleAnnXO stated in her latest video. “Stacie was not happy, but [Casey] won full custody.”
As The Ashley previously reported, Stacie was also “not happy” about Casey being awarded emergency temporary custody of Hunter last month. She made her feelings clear in her response to Casey’s petition, in which Casey had claimed that Hunter would be in “immediate risk of irreparable harm” if he stayed with his mother, due to Stacie allegedly not supervising Hunter and allowing Falen Vaughn– the (recently arrested) mother of Hunter’s 16-year-old baby mama, Bella Vaughn– to have “inappropriate” interest and involvement in Hunter’s life.
While Casey has reportedly been granted full custody of Hunter, it’s also being reported that a judge ruled this week to seal the custody case from the public going forward, due to it becoming “very high profile.”
Court records confirm that the emergency custody hearing was held on May 7; however, documents revealing the outcome are not publicly available.
“ … pretty much the case is being sealed, so they’re gonna shut down the case for the public, they’re gonna seal it,” @MichelleAnnXO reported.
In addition to seeking full custody of Hunter, Casey is also currently fighting Bella’s mom Falen for full custody of Hunter and Bella’s son, Wesley. As fans of ‘Unexpected’ are aware, Hunter was only 12 years old when Wes was conceived, while Bella was 14. Although the couple has never appeared to have any doubt that Hunter is the father of Wes, the same cannot be said for Casey.
On Tuesday, a judge issued an order for paternity testing to be done on Hunter, Bella and Wes at Casey’s request, with Casey also offering to foot the bill (at least for now) for the test to be done. In his initial filing for custody of Wes, Casey named Hunter as Wesley’s biological father; however, he noted that paternity had not been “legally established.”
Casey also filed a request with the court this week to appoint an attorney ad litem for Wesley. In addition to asking for a specific attorney, Casey requested in his filing that all parties be responsible for covering the costs of the attorney ad litem equally. (The judge has yet to rule on this particular motion.)
The hearing for temporary custody of Wesley is scheduled for May 29. (The judge’s decision to give Casey custody of Hunter does not affect the custody case for Wesley, by the way.)
As The Ashley previously reported, amid the ongoing custody cases, Bella revealed earlier this week on social media that she and Hunter are now engaged.
Watch the full update from @MichelleAnnXO below.
@michelleannxo Freaky Falen and Stacie will try and say the court is rigged! But the judge saw right through them and is not buying the TLC narrative they’ve been pushing! #tlc #unecpected #update #custody #realitytv
RELATED STORY: Father of ‘Unexpected’ Star Hunter Johnson Demands a Paternity Test to Ensure Hunter’s the Father of Baby Wesley
(Photos: TLC; Facebook; TikTok)
20 Responses
Great news.
Nobody concerned about his “Dad” suddenly wanting to be a dad and take over 100% when apparently has had issues showing up for Hunter in the past???
No one who has been payng attention and actually knows the background that the father has been involved all along and had custody for years. Not to mention housed his drug addicted ex with his new family to keep her off the streets.
Oh amazing news!! I thought this would be a dragged out custody case continued for years to come like we’ve seen with Jenelle’s nonsense. Is this really how easy it is? Anyway.. I hope the next step is that they get custody of the baby. What a nightmare situation.
It’s definitely not always this fast. This was given the emergency fast track. It’s not easy to have your case be considered an emergency.
I do think Hunter and his child should be protected… the seal makes sense, there.
I also feel Falon’s… behaviors shouldn’t be sealed, she’s out and about interacting with her daughter, and that means access to her daughter’s friends… kids the same age as Hunter. (Want to bet Falon bought that engagement ring?) It makes me deeply uncomfortable that this woman is some form of a predator (allegedly) out and about in her community.
We don’t even know the half of it yet. What we do know is horrifying. She should not have any contact with minors or be allowed near schools in my opinion.
Hunter isn’t the first boy she’s tried to get Bella pregnant by. She definitely needs to be looked into. The few inappropriate texts they found on the second phone she got for Hunter should be enough to really investigate hwr. I hope she’s stopped for good. Bella has another younger sister and all the kids need to be protected.
The last thing these two need is to get married… what a nightmare but I’m glad an adult with common sense is trying to take charge of this terrible situation..
I totally agree about flying this judge to North Carolina so that Jace *finally* has a fighting chance at getting the help, love, and care that the vicious witch who calls herself his mother claims that she gives him (which we all know is a lie).
Judges are state and city appointed (and voted in-in the case of magistrates), they can’t just leave the state and work cases elsewhere, be serious.
It’s refreshing to see a judge with common sense!
I’m beyond happy. We need to get that judge to NC so Jace can finally have some justice in his life
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!
On that day, I shall Futterwacken…vigorously. ☺️
I couldn’t be more happy. Finally a Judge got it right and actually protected a child. Hopefully a little separation from Falen and Stacey he can start thinking for himself and realize he was manipulated. But that may take years.
That kid needs to get in therapy, stat!
It will be a bumpy road at his dad’s house. Rules and no contact with Bella which will get in the way of his sex life. Based on the report of the fight with his stepmom, he’s already being difficult. Seems like the stepmom has Hunter’s best interests at heart, but he probably doesn’t see it that way.
It’s good that he’s away from all of those wackos, but it’s not going to be rainbows, roses and sunshine. He probably won’t make it easy on the adults who set boundaries. The whole family will need deep therapy. Even the little sister who he publicly said terrible things about.
I agree. It will be a long and bumpy road for Hunter and his father’s new family. Definitely they should all be in family therapy and hopefully Hunter will be turned around. As for Bella and her crazy family, they just see it all as a pay check. The very fact that they allowed Hunter to stay over at 12 years old and that they did nothing to prevent Bella from acting out sexually says volumes about them. I was stunned when she came home from the hospital and went to take a shower and Hunter went with her. What in the hell is wrong with those people? For Hunter’s sake, I hope he does get much needed therapy and that his father and stepmother don’t give up on him.
Very true. I do worry about the stepmother because he assaulted her over a phone that Falen provided that she took from him. Dad was at work. My other worry is that Falen slipped him a phone and Falen and Stacey will help him make plans to run away from the Dad’s house. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bella and Wes joined him so he wouldn’t be lonely. I hope I’m wrong.