Jorge Gabriel Morales, the man who in 2022 kidnapped his six-year-old autistic son and even took him to Canada, appeared in court this week to request the dismissal of the kidnapping charge.
Jay White, defense attorney for the accused, stated that Morales "is distressed."
According to the lawyer, his client acknowledges that he made a mistake, but he assures that he loves his son.
He acknowledges that he took the child for the wrong reasons, but he claims that in his mind he believed he was "trying to help him."
White argued that his client had the right to take his son, but the issue was never returning him to the mother.
He also assured that the case does not constitute a kidnapping and expressed hope that Morales will be released.
However, after hearing the arguments, the judge denied the request.
Background of the case
It was in August 2022 that the case became known through the pleas of the Cuban Yanet Concepción, the mother of the father of little Jorge “Jojo” Morales, who was begging to recover her son, kidnapped by the father.
On Saturday, August 27, Jorge Gabriel Morales picked up the child at the maternal grandmother's house and never returned him. From the very beginning, authorities spoke of the alleged complicity of the paternal grandmother, Lilliam Peña Morales.
In mid-October, it was revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was offering a reward of $10,000 for information leading to the whereabouts of the boy.
"There were letters that showed an intention not to return, an intention that no one would ever see the child again," Yanet Concepción recently revealed to Telemundo 51.
For more than two months, authorities across the country searched for the little boy.
Finally, the boy was found at a Walmart in Canada, in the company of his father and paternal grandmother.
The child was returned by the authorities to the United States, and the mother and son had an emotional reunion in Miami.
The child, now eight years old, is trying to reclaim a normal childhood, although it is marked by the trauma he has experienced.
“He went online, and the only thing he could understand was to look at me and say, ‘My dad is a bad person’... And I told him that people in the world make mistakes. We all make mistakes and pay for them; then we ask God for forgiveness, and we are all children of God and deserve His forgiveness,” recounted the mother of the young boy about a recent conversation she had with her son.
Yanet Concepción believes that her ex-husband should not be released.
"I am not a vengeful person nor do I seek maximum retribution out of revenge. I only believe that until my son reaches adulthood and it's no longer my responsibility to protect him, I would not feel safe with that person out there," Concepción states.
If the prosecution does not offer a favorable agreement, Morales could face a trial where a jury would determine whether his actions qualify as kidnapping. If found guilty, he could face a sentence of life imprisonment.
In February of this year, Lilliam Morales, the paternal grandmother of "Jojo," reached an agreement with the prosecution that allowed her to avoid the charge of kidnapping and live freely under 10 years of probation.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Kidnapping Case of Jorge Gabriel Morales
Why did Jorge Gabriel Morales kidnap his son?
Jorge Gabriel Morales argued that he acted out of love for his son and believed he was trying to help him. However, the act was deemed a kidnapping for failing to return the child to his mother.
What consequences does Jorge Gabriel Morales face for the kidnapping?
If he does not reach a favorable agreement with the prosecution, Jorge Gabriel Morales could face a trial where a jury would determine if his actions qualify as kidnapping. If found guilty, he could face a life sentence.
What was the role of the paternal grandmother in the kidnapping?
The paternal grandmother, Lilliam Peña Morales, was suspected of complicity in the kidnapping. She reached an agreement with the prosecution that allowed her to avoid the kidnapping charge and live freely under 10 years of probation.
How has this incident affected the child?
The boy, who is now eight years old, is trying to regain a normal childhood after the trauma he experienced. The incident has left an emotional mark on him, and his mother has had to explain that people make mistakes and can be forgiven.
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