Following the update on Dallas (Obanion) Williams where a man by the name of Michael E. Robinson, Sr. was interviewed, contact was made by various individuals who work in the advocacy field along with other individuals including those that had asked Mr. Robinson to work on their behalf.
It would appear that there is strong evidence that Mr. Robinson may not be exactly who he claims to be. When he was interviewed, a surface search of him was conducted to fact check his statements concerning his relationship with the Dallas case.
Firstly, he stated in his interview that he got involved in the case because “I was contacted by the mother and multiple other advocates that work on the local or state level.” That leads one to believe that the mother and other advocates approached him to work on the case. Before the interview was published, Tina Obanion confirmed that Mr. Robinson was indeed involved in the case.
However, since the article came out, it has been alleged that he approached many people about contacting Ms. Obanion to offer help for her son, and that information was passed along to her. She made the decision to call Mr. Robinson based on his initial offer of help and his “official” sounding titles and organization names made him appear legit to a woman who was down to the wire and needing help FAST. Ms. Obanion confirmed that he did in fact file for a due process hearing and something that Mr. Robinson had called a “Code 18.”
[Edit: 3/05/2010: An advocate reported to me that she had in fact contacted Mr. Robinson about helping Tina Obanion after she read a post of his on FB. She forwarded Mr. Robinson's conact information to Tina O.]
She also confirmed that the many letters of support on behalf of Dallas and the hundreds of phone calls were very instrumental in helping the assault charges against Dallas but that the filing of the due process had nothing to do with it as it was filed after the charges were dropped against Dallas although it was on the same day.
Ms. Obanion still needs help from an advocate or an attorney who can appear in court with her because she said “Mr. Robinson wouldn’t be able to travel this far from Hawaii or California.”
Other advocates looked at the document that Mr. Robinson put on the web as his final document for filing for due process. It was criticized for being sloppy and an obvious cut and paste job (including cutting and pasting from the original article that appeared here).
Michael E. Robinson, Sr. story continues here: 1 2 3 4 5
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Comments
Well, I'll be darned. This man tried to friend me around the same time I became interested in the case in Nevada. Strange! Shocking! What has this man done with our children's money, our minds our hope? This is unreal! Mr. Robinson, What say you?
Scott,
Thanks for stopping by, reading and commenting! I'll be sure to publish any statement Mr. Robinson wishes to provide to my readers and interested parties.
How awful for him to take advantage of families like that!
TY Heather, what a tragedy. With the amount of contact he has had with so many, vulnerable people--it saddens me to think of how much damage and hardship he may have caused! It sounds like he's targeting the autism community by far and large.
He contacted me several years ago claiming he could fix our case with his lobbying contacts. After I gave him all our info, he disappeared only to reappear on Facebook and ask me to join his new "getafape.com" advocacy organization as a paid advocate.
Scott and Kris, indeed it is a tragedy...
Amy, thanks for sharing some personal information about your interaction with him. I hope others will come forward and report any issues they've had as well!
Interesting! I was contacted by a man by the same name. I did not go with his "service" after hearing what he had to offer. Amazing. I hope he gets the help he needs.
Melissa,
Interesting! What made you decide to decline his offer of help?
Heather,
I got a gut feeling about it. I think you should trust your gut. It's kinda like sushi, "When in doubt throw it out!"
Just in case anyone is interested here, Mr. Robinson and his business manager, Ms. Seidenstricker have left comments on part 4. It does not appear (at this time) that he will be supplying a statement on his own behalf to be published for his side of this.
Melissa,
Seems a good moto to me! I'm allergic to fishy stuff. :)
This is ridiculous and slanderous. Heather Sedlock should be ashamed of herself. Michael Robinson works relentlessly and sometimes pro bono to help children like mine with special needs. Children whose rights get violated everyday. He is helping MY KIDS. You have no idea what you are talking about and apparently no idea how to do proper research before blasting out a slanderous piece of trash like this article. I have seen the work he has done. He is a god-send to parents and children fighting the special education school system. And that's what it is an on-going battle just to get them to even adhere to the laws. He works virtually round the clock helping families. Your attacks on him are baseless and reckless. I know his work first hand and it is far from "sloppy" as you put it. Michael Robinson does an excellent job as an advocate, and he doesn't take advantage of families the way other advocates do, and especially not the way that attorneys do! Shame on you Heather!
This could be cleared up easily if he posted his Lobbyist info, etc.
I do not trust Michael E Robinson or anyone that defends him. I have had him tell me he is a doctor, was a race car driver, musician, and banker. He also said he was a lawyer and a lobbyist. FYI: Regina? It is NOT slander or libel when it is truth spoken. Heather and some of her sources checked Mr. Robinson, and he was never a lobbyist in any capacity. He was never a doctor, he never even went to college. That is reporting truth. Apparently Robinson and you do not like it, but it is the truth and Robinson needs to quit lying to families and wrecking cases. I am sorry you also have a bias towards attorneys. There are good ones and there are great advocates as well. Maybe you could only find and afford Robinson and are sad about it. That does not give you the right to attack a reporter trying to do a public service. Sorry. I hope one day you will appreciate it and do yourself a favor and let Robinson get the help he apparently needs for his apparent delusions.
Has anyone asked him for a resume with references and his DC contacts or his real physical address and his real physical office address?
Who is Ray Parenteau really? Where is Michael's own son or other kids? I have a feeling if any of these are asked he will disappear or he will lie some more or make really lame excuses. I know because he screwed up my case.
I thank you ALL for your comments. I invite anyone to leave their story here, either positive or negative as it relates to Mr. Robinson.
I did not slander nor commit libel with the above article. However, if Mr. Robinson feels that I did, I look forward to speaking with his attorney about this matter.
FYI Lauren it is slander/ libel when it's not true! I don't know what right you think you have to attack me or Michael. Michael is a GREAT advocate. I can finally sleep at night now that he is helping my family. I got all the answers I needed about him with a few minutes on Google and a brain, so that just shows how poor a job Ms. Shedlock did. All she did was reprint a bunch of debunked rantings of an illegal immigrant trying to lie his way into this country. You, Ms. Shedlock and some of the others on here are just toxic. Michael is right, you aren't worth the wasted time.
Printed on page 5:
Heather E. Sedlock says:
I retract all of my statements in my report. I was given false information about Mr. Robinson and hope he accepts my sincere apology.
March 5, 7:53 PM
This is not good enough Heather. You had better print a full retraction just as long and involved as this demented story you concocted.
Since you write any words in for "name" someone can continue in their attempts to pretend to be me to "retract" statements, etc. Those comments WILL be deleted.
Please continue to discuss.
Why are you all complaining so much about someone I know does alot of work for free for many parents. If you are going to retract your statements please do so as they are way out of line. For those that continue talking badly about him, how many kids a year do you help ? This article is helping none.
Michael started stalking me a few years ago when I was going through that terrible time with my son's school district in AZ. He talks a good game, but that's it. He is not a registered lobbyist. He has never worked for the DoD. He is just a guy who wants attention. Be warned.
This man helped my son gain an educational program I could never get help on from anyone. Attorneys and advocates wanted thousands, and he took nothing. What is wrong with you Heather ?
This Michael thing is scary. Thank you for reporting this. Michael if you are a lobbyist you better prove it or you will be in big trouble mister.
Hi Regina, I did not attack anyone. In fact, I simply shared with you that some people did a lot more than use Google. Furthermore, Google searches will not help him, either. Try searching again. There are no real cases with real people, case numbers, etc that he has ever helped for starters. Honey, I am very sorry you feel the need to defend him and feel I attacked you. However, I am fully supporting Heather, (whom you have attacked unfairly) for warning people about this scam artist and possibly unstable person interfering with very real and very serious cases in which people need help from real advocates and attorneys. Good luck in the future, Regina and good job, Ms. Sedlock for shining the light on this issue. You are preventing a lot of innocent people from being hurt.
Whoever just posted in my name shows how easy it is for just one person to say all these bad things about Mr. Robinson . I do not appreciate the article having my name in it and I do not agree with anything that impersonator just said about him. At the time my clients and my closest friends needed help Michael was the only one to respond. It's my understanding he was the only one to do anything other then type alot online for Dallas. He's a good man that helped all my clients while I was going through a hard time in life. Without him, many would have had no help at all. Is that your wishes Mrs. Sedlock ?
He never showed me any documents or papers. Just pointed me to his website that isn't very impressive. But he is charming and when you need help he made it appear you could lean on him.
He repeatedly told me he didn't charge, but was quite upset about my check he couldn't cash.
Oh, my God! I almost let Michael help me last year with my son and daughter in Atlanta. He totally bugged!! I mean he did make all these claims and he also said his name used to be Robby Robinson Jr. Then he said he had a one nite stand with some woman and she had his kid and he hid from it all. This guy is a sicko people!
Ray Parenteau and Michael Robinson are the same guy.
Wait...isn't Raymond Parenteau the guy who was arrested and convicted of fraud in his school district for faking invoices for tutors? OMG...now if that ain't the pot calling the kettle!
This man only lies about everything. He was never drove for nascar. google it! He also was never a lawyer, dr, lobbyist, surfer, writer, banker, nor did her work for dog the bounty hunter. Come on people do you really believe his bull crap??
Illegals made it bad Michael made it good.
Why anyone would read or believe such rubbish reported by some woman who has no idea who she is talking about. My 22 yr. old daughter is in college because we contacted Michael back in the late 90's. Nuff said. This is a pathetic attack by those that jump on the bandwagon instead of actually attempting to do what he does for parents all over the country. Shame on you Heather and all the imposters posting. To the parents that may be real here, you have an option of paying 5,000 or more to an attorney. Do that and let Michael help the kids as he does.
Amy, you have no idea what happened in my personal case. After helping multiple families in my area I was singled out and was in trouble for advocating and nothing else. I did nothing wrong and have not been convicted of any crime such as you state. Heather's reporting is also false.
Hi. I was just wondering if anyone knows about him saying he was a surfer and that he was attacked by a shark. He tried to hook up with me with that line. I live in Hawai'i where he usually lives. he is not a surfer or a shark bite victim.
How was jail Raymond? Of course you would be here to defend mr. robinson. I guess all of you scammers stick together.
I just clickes on link from America Beautiful page and this is what I se?
Regina Radulski says:
Illegals made it bad Michael made it good.
March 5, 8:35 PM
Regina, it hardnes me to see how you feel.Usted es tal tonto. Usted no tiene la menor idea cuán duro es de ser un "ilegal" usted puerco.
R
R
Get a life freak and stop posting stuff in my name. How about you grow a pair and post your own opinions and sign your own name to it.
@ Raymond..Uh really?
PRESCOTT - Thirteen months after his arrest on charges of defrauding the Prescott Unified School District, autism advocate Ray Parenteau pleaded guilty to tampering with public records, a Class 6 felony.
www.dcourier.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=76533&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&S=1
Michael Robbinson is a sad individual who needs help. Apparently he is also rich because he works all of his case pro-bono. We all know he lives on FB, and does not appear to have a real job. Where does he get all of this money to help? I am sure Raymond has the answers to that question. He knows the ends and outs of scamming.
After a long struggle for over 2 years to even get help Michael was the only one that would and he did so. I wonder how interested all those that continue making posts such as I've read are possibly caring for their child ? I know for me it's an all day job and there is not time for useless gossip as this. Michael Robinson is a good advocate and a good man. My husband is a big fan of his from the past. Reading all of this reminded me of reading other useless blogs that do nothing but talk bad about people. Get a life heather and all of you that wrote bad about him !
Now you all are making me filled with laughter and also sadness for you. I am not the same man as Michael Robinson. We don't even look alike ! I got his HELP - read that word. As I helped others and got in trouble for it, he helped me. He didn't even know me when the district filed bogus charges against me and he's never lived in Arizona where I've lived my own life. This is getting more pathetic by the moment. Don't you all have kids to take care of ? I have Cody. That is my child. I have seen many pictures of Michael with his son and know of a very recent visit. You are all so naive in believing anything that Sedlock writes. It's all garbage about him. Anyone that has had him work on their case knows quite different.
Here's a snippet of Michael's postings and rantings that conflict
I think Ari should stop leading his crew to say 'What if you were
gay..would you want that to be changed ? " ... this is a constant from that crew. I have to state that I am in no judgment of anyone or
their view, but what I see here is someone with ND tattooed on his
forehead and going around speaking for others that truly have A.S.D. .How does he get a president to listen to him.. he DOESN'T. He gets presidential aides to speak with him using Autism the very word and diagnosis he refutes as a way to get in. This is a mind hard at work to deceive, it does not at all appear to be a mind that has ASD within it.. more of a mind that says ' Look at Me !! ' Either way, I'm excusing that whole line of ' Don't speak for us ' garbage.. we have a half billion child children in this country that are on the spectrum and in public schools - so in speaking for them.. 3 words come to mind.. " Ari - SHUT UP " .
then he says
Once again Ari.. under the attack of those with partial brains attempting to be as bright as you are... the antic's of John Best are OVER with any listserv or anything else I have.. his attacks on you are unwarranted and show the Jealousy of a man that can not do what you can... I applaud ASAN.. it's members.. and all those that stand up to bullies that are actually little scrawny guys like him, Keep up the good fight Ari... we are behind you 100 percent. Michael"
Let me set this record straight. I grew up with Mike and have known him for over 30 years. Not only is he exactly who he says he is, he is also much much more. To attack a man that has given his time and life to help all of our children including my own is only something the truly bored or just sick in the mind would do. Whoever said he needs help you are quite wrong. The only help he could need would be more people to help him help the kids, but you are not interested in that.
Micheal really should stop Raymond from posting if he's looking for help. Convicted felons do not make good references.
Obviously there is some thick headed thinking going on here. I have stated Mr. Robinson HELPED me AND my clients during that time in my life. He helped many of my clients when I could not. How does this make him a bad man ? He is not. What you say about me Amy is nothing more then political mud slinging as you do not know at all what you are talking of. You have no idea what a plea of no contest to 1 of 33 charges means, nor do you know what no finding of fact means. It means in less then six months I have no record. See if I go out and help any of you ingrates again. I don't know how Mr. Robinson does what he does with people like you and others complaining when you've paid the man nothing. I know with no doubt he helps many with no payment at all. You and Heather belong together.
Before I even could read my post I see more attacks from this Amy Carabello. Why would you think Mike would even care what you say about him. I've known him long enough to know he'll refer the slander to his attorney and go on to help another child or several before the night is over. I also know that if it's saturday or sunday he is still on the phone helping parents all over the country. As a long time friend since Jr. High and then having an Autistic Child myself I think many of you that are parents are stooping to an all time low. You should examine yourself and possibly refrain from the derogatory statements you have made about one terrific guy.
Um err...I was attacking Raymond.
What lies said about such a great man. This blog should be shut down for good. Shame on all of you with the exception of the parents that have facts to state. Sedlocks report is not factual and in my opinion belongs in one place. The garbage.
No Amy Carabello, you have stated many bad things about Mike and it's just plain wrong. Maybe you will repent for your sins on Sunday, maybe not. Either way I have read your postings and you are by no means innocent of being yet another that makes false allegations. I'm just glad Mike doesn't have to read all this nonsense. He's a great guy that works 7 days a week for all of our kids.
YES, THERE ARE MORE PAGES WITH COMMENTS...hmmmmmmm?
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