Country star Sara Evans and her ex-husband Craig Schelske will return to court in Franklin, TN on Tuesday as part of a custody case over their children. Schelske is seeking more parenting time with the three children from his marriage to Evans, which ended in an acrimonious and very public divorce in 2006.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Schelske brought the action in response to Evans' upcoming tour in support of her new album Stronger, which marks the first time she has toured extensively since their divorce. His petition says he seeks to "protect the children from the likelihood of substantial harm" because during previous tours he has witnessed first-hand that "the children are exposed to inappropriate conduct, spend little time with [Sara], and are placed in a party atmosphere with excessive drinking and drug use."
"I love my kids. They need me and their mom. Spending four days a month together is not enough time, for them or me," Schelske told American Coalition for Fathers and Children (ACFC) executive director Michael McCormick.
Schelske recently received an apology and settlement from Evans' attorney, John Hollins, Sr. after filing suit over comments that appeared in People magazine. "These actions harmed the good relationship my children and I once enjoyed," Schelske said.
The story goes back to October of 2006, when Evans and Schelske filed for divorce amid mutual allegations of marital infidelity. Hollins' initial filing claimed, among other things, that Schelske maintained extensive computer files that depicted him engaging in sexual intercourse with multiple other women that included the family's former nanny, Alison Clinton Lee. Schelske denied the charges, but in a statement to People magazine Hollins said, "Everything we allege, we've got photographs to back up."
Hollins was subsequently unable to produce any of the alleged photographs, and the couple settled their divorce out of court. In 2009 Sara Evans settled a defamation lawsuit with her former nanny for a reported $500,000. Hollins gave Schelske an undisclosed settlement in March of this year, followed by a public apology in May.
"Sara and I are both good parents. For my children to have lost their dad as a result of legal shenanigans which encourage conflict and reward mud-slinging benefits no one. My case happens to be public, but what's happened to me is happening every day to good parents caught up in family court," said Schelske.
Schelske maintains the children will be better off on his Oregon farm, surrounded by family and friends, while Evans is touring this summer. "There's no need for the kids to spend time on the road in a tour bus with the accompanying lifestyle when they can be with their dad," he said.
ACFC's McCormick commented, "Sadly, a variation of this scene plays out over 4,000 times a day across the nation. We do a disservice to children when we unnecessarily limit the time they spend with a loving parent."
Mr. Schelske will also be asking the court to allow him to speak freely about the case. He says he is currently barred from correcting public misperceptions surrounding the story. He believes that, along with his lack of time with the children, is damaging their relationship.
Speaking with Examiner.com earlier this month, Schelske remained circumspect about his famous former spouse, citing the need to effectively co-parent their children. "I loved my ex-wife with all my heart," he said in response to questions about their marriage. "I was faithful to her all of the years that we were married. We still have our children to raise."
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