The Order Said No Alcohol. The Fridge Said Otherwise.

When these parents divorced, the dad agreed in writing not to drink to excess during his parenting time. Then he had eight to nine beers at a swimming pool with his 13-year-old son, drove with the boy in the car, and was arrested for DUI with a blood alcohol level of 0.19. His daughter arrived at the scene and both kids watched. He admitted the DUI charge in another county's court. Last November, this judge tightened the rule: no alcohol of any kind in his home while the children are there. Then his 10-year-old daughter started texting her mom photos from inside his house — a case of Michelob Ultra in the refrigerator, Twisted Tea cans in the laundry room, a can in a cup holder — each one date-stamped. The mom filed for contempt. Under cross-examination she admits she never raised the photos with the dad, and the defense argues the daughter has her own reasons to get her father in trouble. On the stand, the dad says he has learned his lesson, only drinks on his off weeks, and doesn't know where the pictures came from. He also admits he told his ex-wife he had "papers" letting him drive a truck without the interlock device his DUI probation requires — a claim the judge does not find credible. After both children testify, the judge tells him he is choosing alcohol over his kids, finds three willful violations of the court's orders, sentences him to 30 days, then suspends all of it and tells him to turn around and look at his children. Proceeding: Petition for Criminal Contempt — Post-Divorce Parenting Plan Enforcement Court: 23rd Judicial District, Tennessee Date: See source Chapters: 00:00 Why the contempt petition was filed twice 01:16 Mom takes the stand 03:00 The written promise: no drinking to excess around the kids 04:18 A friend calls about the mugshot 05:28 Eight to nine beers at the pool, a 0.19, and his son in the car 07:18 The November order: no alcohol in the house at all 08:32 Mom tells the kids what the judge ordered 11:33 The daughter starts texting photos 14:35 The photos, date by date: Michelob Ultra, Twisted Tea, a cup holder 18:12 "If I had a problem with it, take him to court" 20:11 Cross-examination: why didn't you co-parent? 22:59 Defense: your daughter wants her father in trouble 25:03 You've never actually seen the cans yourself 46:15 "Do you understand you could have killed your son?" 47:04 The papers he says let him drive without the interlock 50:05 "I'm an adult. I can drink." 51:13 Dad confronted with the photos 55:30 "No alcohol since November" — with a qualifier 58:37 Closing arguments 60:43 Judge: "You're choosing alcohol over your children" 66:08 The ruling: three violations, 10 days each 67:19 "Turn around and look over your right shoulder" 69:29 30 days suspended — and a warning Participants: • Mom — petitioner, the children's mother, who filed the contempt petition after receiving photos from her daughter. • Dad — respondent, the children's father, previously arrested for DUI with his son in the car and ordered to keep alcohol out of his home during parenting time. • Daughter (10) and son (13 at the time) — the couple's children, who testified earlier in the hearing. • Chancellor — presiding judge, Cheatham County Chancery Court, 23rd Judicial District, Tennessee. • Counsel for the mother and counsel for the father. Legal terms: • Criminal contempt: A finding that someone willfully disobeyed a court order, punishable by jail time. It must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, the same standard as a criminal charge. • Parenting plan: The court-approved schedule and rules for how divorced parents share time with and decisions about their children. • Suspended sentence: Jail time that is imposed but not served, on condition of future good behavior. If the person violates again, the time can be ordered served. • Interlock device: A breathalyzer wired to a car's ignition that prevents it from starting if alcohol is detected, often required after a DUI. Keywords: contempt of court hearing, parenting plan violation, no alcohol order, DUI with child in car, family court hearing, Tennessee chancery court, real court hearing, co-parenting dispute, suspended sentence Official source:    • 7-9-26 Cheatham Chancery   This is legal commentary for educational purposes only. Not legal advice. #FamilyCourt #RealCourt #CourtroomDrama