A Shocking Custody Ruling Endangers a Minor Child, and Forces Reunification with Her Accused Abuser

January 6th, 2025, a Florida family court judge granted joint custody of 13-year-old “A.M.” to her father, Sean MacMaster, despite overwhelming evidence and a history of abuse allegations deemed “credible” by investigators from the Michigan Attorney General’s Office. This devastating decision comes after nine years of legal battles, during which A.M. courageously disclosed her abuse and endured relentless trauma.

In 2016, a young girl living in Oakland County, Michigan—A.M.—made multiple credible disclosures of sexual abuse to numerous mandated reporters and, eventually, to a Florida Family Court judge. She named her abusers as her father, Sean MacMaster, and his step-father, Larry Orr, who is a convicted sex offender (Public Sex Offender Registration #S20016725). Despite extraordinary evidence deemed “credible” by Michigan’s Attorney General, A.M. now faces a devastating custody ruling forcing her back into contact with her alleged abuser. The Mother of A.M. has fought tirelessly to protect her child but has had to declare bankruptcy, face contempt charges, and a bill nearing $2.23 million in legal and expert fees.

What You Need to Know

The Evidence Was Never Disproven

In 2016, A.M. disclosed years of abuse by her father and her step-grandfather, a convicted sex offender. Both men were arrested, and Michigan’s Attorney General called the evidence “extraordinarily compelling.” However, charges were dismissed without prejudice—meaning they could be refiled—, due to prosecutorial misconduct in an unrelated casenot because A.M.’s allegations lacked merit.

A Judge’s Dangerous Decision

This week’s custody ruling forces A.M. into a joint custody arrangement with her father—someone she hasn’t seen in over three years. The court disregarded crucial evidence. Meanwhile, the Mother has been held in contempt for seeking alternative therapists and evaluations for A.M. to address her ongoing trauma.

A Mother Fighting Against the Odds

The Mother has faced bankruptcy, massive legal fees, and a court system that continues to punish her for putting her daughter’s well-being first. She urgently needs financial support to maintain the most beneficial home environment for A.M., fight these unjust rulings, and ensure A.M. continues a healthy path forward  

Critical Bond Hearing Evidence After Sean's Arrest

At the bond hearing for A.M.’s alleged abusers, Judge Nancy Carniak denied the defendants’ bond. After hearing the evidence, she remarked:

“Quite frankly, in the almost 20 years I’ve been on the bench, I’ve never denied an individual bond, but I think if there was any case, this would be the case for the following reasons. Based upon the testimony of the trooper, who was the investigator of this case, the two forensic interviews, the five to six family assessments in Washtenaw County, and the corroborating physical evidence of defendant’s semen at or near the – in the child’s – looks like a child’s bedroom, the likelihood of conviction does seem very high.

The Court is very curious why the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office declined to file charges. There was no evidence as to the reasons why, and I have obviously no idea of those reasons, but all I have right now is the evidence of the trooper and his testimony and the exhibits that were admitted, 1 through 4. So obviously if something else is to come to the Court’s attention, I have no reason to doubt the credibility of the victim at this point.”

Attorney General’s Confidence

Attorney General Dana Nessel personally signed off on the charges and even met with A.M., gifting her a book inscribed with a handwritten note—alongside Chief Legal Counsel Suzanne Sonneborn—and awarding A.M. a “Badge of Protest.” Those inscriptions read:

"Dear [A.M.]

Your strength and courage are an inspiration. Keep reading and always be true to yourself.

—Dana Nessel"

"Dear [A.M.]

Never underestimate what you can do in this world. If you can imagine it, you can do it. You are strong. You are smart. You are beautiful.

—Suzanne Sonneborn"

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s public statement: “In the end, today does not reflect the truthfulness of the victims in these cases but rather the consequence of a prosecutor who failed in his sacred duty to properly administer justice in our legal system.”

Why This Matters

This isn’t a typical custody dispute—it’s a fight to protect a child from real harm. Multiple experts have called A.M.’s disclosures credible, yet the court has chosen to disregard the evidence. The Mother continues to face crippling legal and financial hurdles simply for trying to shield her daughter from further trauma.

How You Can Help

Cover Mounting Legal Costs

The Mother’s expenses have skyrocketed—over $2.23 million—due to nearly a decade of litigation, expert testimony, and court-imposed fines. 

Where Your Donations Will Go

Legal Representation: Help the Mother retain skilled counsel to fight for the child’s safety and best interests. 

Take Action Today

Donate Now: Your contributions will directly support legal fees to continue the fight against these unjust circumstances.

Share This Story: Please spread the word. Public awareness is critical to securing justice for A.M.

Thank you for standing with A.M. and her mother. Every dollar is a step toward safety, healing, and a hopeful future for this courageous child.

TIMELINE 

• In March 2019 Michigan District Court Judge Kelley Kostin signed a search warrant for convicted sexual offender Orr's home. Michigan State Police executed the search  warrant with a forensic lab team. A separate search warrant was obtained from Michigan District Court Judge Jamie Wittenberg to collect DNA samples from both men. 
• Michigan State Police forensic analysts conducted an analysis of evidence obtained from the search warrant execution.  Carpet analysis of the DNA confirms stains tested positive for suspected seminal fluid from both men at multiple locations consistent with the child’s forensic interview disclosures.
• Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel authorized formal criminal charges against Sean MacMaster and Larry Orr for first degree criminal sexual conduct upon a child under thirteen (13) years of age in May 2019. MacMaster was subsequently extradited from Florida to Michigan. Both the Governor of Michigan and the Governor of Florida had to sign off on his extradition.
• After their arrests, Honorable, Judge Nancy Carniak, presiding judge over the case, denied both defendants’ request for bond because of the high likelihood of conviction.
• AG Nessel announced that the charges against MacMaster and Orr were being dismissed “without prejudice” (meaning the charges can be re-filed) because of an internal investigation her office conducted regarding prosecutorial misconduct by the assigned Assistant Attorney General Brian Kolodziej in a completely unrelated case.
• Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s public statement: “In the end, today does not reflect the truthfulness of the victims in these cases but rather the consequence of a prosecutor who failed in his sacred duty to properly administer justice in our legal system.”
• On December 4, 2019, the charges were officially dismissed without prejudice and the defendants were released from jail.
• The Kent County Prosecutor’s Office in collaboration with Michigan State Police conducted a year-long investigation of Kolodziej and cleared him of any criminal misconduct in the MacMaster/Orr Case.  Currently, no renewed criminal charges have been filed against Sean MacMaster or Larry Orr nor has the case been referred to any other prosecutorial agency. 
• After release from jail, Sean MacMaster immediately sought to gain contact with the child. Florida family court Judge James P. Nilon ordered the child to be reunified with MacMaster. Furthermore, contempt was issued against the mother for taking the minor child for an evaluation (without court approval) to address the child’s suicidal ideations brought on by the trauma of reunification among other reasons.
• In January 22, 2020, Judge Nilon, Family & Civil Court Florida, stated on the record that he could not take the child’s sexual abuse allegations seriously without an explanation from the Michigan Attorney General as to why she dismissed the charges: “So why did they drop an absolutely provable, ironclad case? The attorney general is going to have to come down here and answer that question...Oh, this is a great case. But we’re going to drop it because the prosecutor acted improperly because they had a relationship [with] a victim in another case that’s not even anywhere related. They’re going to have to explain. There may be a reason... but they have to explain it to me. And if they’re an elected official, they should have to explain it to their voters that they would drop an ironclad case on a person charged with, you know, serious child sexual allegations, and why they would do that?” – Judge Nilon

• The child’s friends and family have made numerous written and verbal requests to the Michigan Attorney General to take action to protect this child. The Michigan Attorney General’s Office refuses to respond.
• Sean MacMaster filed a motion for sole custody of the child victim, threatening to take the child from her mother and family, relocating her from Michigan to Florida.
• Jan 6th, 2025 - FL Court Grants Joint Custody