Custody Battle Involves Controversial Figures
In Pennsylvania’s seven valleys, efforts have been made by a couple, Logan Riley and Brandon Kees Mitchell, to secure custody through surrogacy. Their journey began in 2019, during which they initiated fundraising activities, including a GoFundMe campaign in 2020, aimed at expanding their family through surrogacy.
On November 3, 2023, an update to their now inactive funding page detailed that Riley had successfully created four embryos via an egg donor program in 2020. After an exhaustive three-year search, it appears that family friends ensured they continued to have support well into early 2023.
The couple has shared videos on social media that depict tender moments with boys under their care. However, these videos have sparked concern among some observers, especially following revelations about Mitchell’s past, raising alarms regarding the well-being of the children involved.
Mitchell was charged in February 2016 with multiple felonies related to child pornography and the corruption of minors. At the time of the incidents, he was employed as a chemistry teacher at Downingtown West High School for around five years.
Documents reveal that during the investigation, prosecutors discovered extensive sexting exchanges between Mitchell and a student from his class. Charles Gaza, a significant figure in the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, expressed serious concerns about the potential for further victims given Mitchell’s access to numerous students over his teaching career.
After his conviction in October 2016 for child sexual abuse and possessing child pornography, he was sentenced to 23 months in prison but was released on parole after just two months.
Years after these events, Mitchell reportedly married Riley, who teaches second grade in Maryland. Following the revelation of Mitchell’s past, a backlash ensued, with some commentators urging immediate investigation, including the potential removal of children from the couple’s custody.
Critics have pointed to broader issues, suggesting that checks during the surrogacy process might not be as thorough as those in adoption, leading to potentially harmful situations. Concerns have been raised about other instances where sex offenders have manipulated surrogacy arrangements to gain access to children.
In addition, other cases have emerged involving gay couples and child abuse that have led to lengthy prison sentences, raising further questions about the complexities of parental rights in such scenarios.
In light of these events, the Pennsylvania State Police Department affirmed that state laws permit sex offenders, like Mitchell, to obtain custody or parental rights under certain conditions, highlighting possible gaps in the protective measures aimed at safeguarding children.
Advocates for strict oversight in surrogacy arrangements have voiced alarm, describing the situation as indicative of a larger systemic failure to protect children in these environments.
