Teen Mom Amber Portwood says she is ‘devastated’ after losing custody of her son James, 4, to ex Andrew Glennon
TEEN Mom Amber Portwood has shared that she feels devastated after losing custody of her four-year-old son James to her ex Andrew Glennon.
Amber issued a statement on her Instagram following the heartbreaking custody battle.
On her Instagram, Amber posted a plain white square with black text.
Her statement read: "I'm devastated and heartbroken by this outcome.
"I've worked so hard to better myself and improve my relationship with my children."
Along with James, Amber also has her 13-year-old daughter Leah with her ex Gary Shirley.
Read More on Amber Portwood
She continued: "While I've always been candid about my past substance abuse and issues with mental health, a person should have a chance to redeem themselves and not be tethered to their issues from the past."
Amber has been vocal about her struggles with her diagnosed bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder.
The MTV star said: "People who've done therapy, and taken classes, and made efforts to change should not continue to be punished for past mistakes.
"I've spent years rebuilding my bridges and did everything that was required of me, including completing 21 negative drug tests and multiple psychological evaluations."
Most read in TV
Last night on Instagram Live, Amber also argued she "should not be held accountable for mistakes from her past as long as she is working to better herself."
Amber continued in her new statement: "If your road has not been perfect, but you've worked hard to become a better, more stable and caring person today, keep moving forward as I'll never stop fighting for my children who I love more than anything."
She concluded: "I've been living in a nightmare for so long, trying to prove myself. I wouldn't wish this unbearable pain on any mother or father."
DRUG DRAMA
Earlier today, The Sun exclusively reported James tested positive for THC at birth and the MTV star was caught smoking pot on her nanny cam.
In the judgment obtained exclusively by The Sun, the judge noted certain factors that were brought to light during the course of the custody case that weighed into her decision to award Andrew Glennon full custody of James.
The judge laid out Amber's history of substance abuse and noted in the explosive judgment: "While pregnant, Mother had someone with prior gang affiliation bring her marijuana and pain pills to the home."
She also noted that Amber admitted to "using marijuana prior to, during and after her pregnancy with the child."
The judge wrote that James "was born with THC in his system. A DCS investigation was initiated after the birth of the child. A CHINS [Child In Need of Services] case was never opened."
The Teen Mom star's use of marijuana continued throughout her and Andrew's tumultuous relationship after the birth of their son, according to the custody filing.
The judge referenced a photo that was submitted into evidence in March, in which the MTV star is seen on their home nanny camera, smoking what appears to be a bong in her bed.
Referencing the photo, which has been exclusively obtained by The Sun, the judge wrote: "Mother has only been left home alone with the child overnight on one occasion in the child’s life to date.
"This occurred in May of 2019 when Father was in California for a work trip. Pictures were admitted into evidence showing Mother smoking marijuana in her bed. Father has not allowed Mother to care for the child overnight since then," the judge noted in her decision to give full custody to Andrew.
HEARTBREAKING BATTLE
The heartbreaking custody fight between the split exes is over after an Indiana court ruled in Andrew's favor and will allow him to relocate with James to his family's $5 million Malibu estate.
The court battle, which started in 2019 when the couple split after the Teen Mom star was arrested for domestic violence against Andrew, was decided over three years later.
Yesterday, The Sun exclusively revealed court documents with details behind the tragic decision.
The judge granted Andrew's request to relocate and gave him sole legal and primary physical custody of James, while ordering that he "seek out and consider the mother's opinion before making any major decisions relating to the child's medical treatment, education and religion."
Amber, who has not had overnight visitation with James since the 2019 domestic violence incident, has been granted overnights under the new custody arrangement which will be phased in incremental time frames.
Amber's time with James will be exercised every month and it will alternate between California and Indiana.
Amber will begin having three days of visitation including overnights in California first, then the following month Andrew will bring James to Indiana.
In phase two, her visitation will be upped to five days, and in phase three there is an undetermined amount of days set forth with the document noting that "mother will have parenting time pursuant to the Indiana parenting guidelines with distance as a major factor based upon the age of the child."
The phasing in of Amber's visitation schedule is to help their four-year-old son adjust to the new overnight routine, according to the judgment.
The judge is also ordering that both Andrew and Amber submit to monthly drug screens for the next six months, while Amber is ordered: "to participate in individual counseling with the counselor of her selection and follow any recommendations made by the counselor."
The drug screens will check for a slew of narcotics including amphetamines, methamphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, opiates including hydrocodone and oxycodone, PCP, methadone, propoxyphene, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, ecstasy and heroin.
The judgment also noted that when the no contact order is lifted between Andrew and Amber, the MTV star will "be entitled to liberal telephone calls and or FaceTime communication with the child."
MTV MONEY
Also yesterday, The Sun exclusively revealed Amber's MTV salary and the shocking amount of child support the judge is ordering her to pay Andrew.
According to documents obtained by The Sun, Amber's annual salary amounts to $600,000 from the entertainment television network.
The judge wrote in her decision: "Mother’s discovery responses, her listed contract amount was $600,00.00 per year. Other expenses, such as costs associated with agents and lawyers, come out of her contract amount."
The judge also noted: "No evidence was presented as to any additional income associated with Mother’s recent book."
After Amber pays people on her team, she brings home closer to $475,000, according to the custody documents.
Meanwhile, the judge - who gave full custody to Andrew and also granted his request to relocate with James to California - is ordering Amber to pay child support dating back to the start of their July 2019 split following the MTV star's arrest for domestic violence.
In determining the amount Amber has to pay, the judge took into consideration that Andrew has been living in her Indiana home rent-free with James, that the Teen Mom star has not had any overnight visits with her son and that Andrew has been the primary caretaker since their breakup.
The documents read: "The court orders that the mother's child support arrearage is set at $52,266.81. And mother shall pay this arrearage by making a lump sum payment within 90 days or by paying an additional $176 per week in child support until her arrearage is paid in full, for the total weekly child support payment of $800 per week."
Amber's regular weekly child support to Andrew outside of the back support, has been set at $624 per week, according to the documents.
The court is also ordering Amber to pay $3,000 towards Andrew's attorney fees, and that the "parents are to divide all work-related childcare expenses... pursuant to their respective income percentage shares."
The court also factored in the massive expenses that will likely be incurred as a result of James living in California and away from Amber in Indiana.
"The court orders the parties shall divide the costs associated with the child travel expenses associated with parenting time pursuant to their respective income percentage shares. Any travel expenses incurred by the party for their own travel in relation to parenting times will be paid by that party."
NASTY FIGHT
In audio previously obtained by The Sun, Andrew revealed his plan in his petition to the court to relocate their son away from Amber in Indiana to his home state where he and James would live with his mother, Charmaine Witus, as they get settled into California.
He currently lives with their son in a home Amber owns in Indiana, while she is living in a rental nearby.
Charmaine's $5 million Malibu estate sits on over three-acres of property, and her home features five bedrooms, five bathrooms, and a swimming pool, which can be seen in aerial photos, according to listings.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Read More on The US Sun
In testimony during the custody hearing, Andrew's mother revealed there's also a separate guest house where his sister and her fiancé reside.
Andrew was asking that the court not allow overnight visitation between Amber and James and that the reality star exercise her parenting time only in California.
