By Chris Osher | Denver Gazette
A Colorado mother avoided further time in jail after her lawyer argued that the court-ordered reunification therapy the mother opposes between her youngest sons and her criminally charged ex-husband was being conducted by a therapist who had a history of tragic, deadly consequences for another mother whose two children were murdered.
After a contentious, two-hour hearing, Larimer County District Court Judge Daniel McDonald on Thursday ruled that Rachel Pickrel-Hawkins would not have to spend five additional weekends in the Larimer County Jail and suspended her sentence.
The judge also halted any additional reunification therapy sessions between her children, aged 10 and 13, and their father until the resolution of the criminal case pending against the father.