Baby's father identified

By Cindy Landrum  

MAY 19, 2011 11:51 a.m. (0)

A DNA test has confirmed a man who called CNN Headline News’ Nancy Grace and claimed to be the father of the newborn abandoned in a Bi-Lo Center toilet in February is the baby’s father.

During a Family Court hearing last week, Jason Jones, a Berea High graduate in his mid 20s, was found to be the legal father of the now three-month-old boy, said A. Wells Black Jr., his attorney.

Jones saw the baby briefly during the DNA test and was able to hold him for the first time during a one-hour supervised visitation at the Department of Social Services office, Black said.

The child is in foster care and in the custody of DSS, Black said.

Jones, who Black said is voluntarily taking a parenting class, is seeking full custody.

“Jason has done nothing wrong. He is simply trying to step in to be the father the child deserves,” Black said. “He wants to be a good dad.”

Black said Jones did not know he had fathered a child until after the baby was born.

Bi-Lo Center employees were cleaning up after a circus performance in February and discovered the newborn in a toilet in one of the arena’s women’s restrooms.

The baby was suffering from hypothermia.

Jessica Blackham, 24, of Easley, is charged with felony child abuse and unlawful neglect of a child.

If convicted, she faces up to 30 years in prison.

No trial date has been set yet.

She is out on bond.

Jones had dated Blackham and she did not tell him she was pregnant, Black said.

During her bond hearing, Blackham’s parents told the judge nobody knew she was pregnant.

At the time, the parents said they’d like to have custody of the child.

Black said he was unaware whether the maternal grandparents would seek custody, but said the law gives the biological father preference over grandparents.

Black said the next court hearing would be in July.

Until then, Jones will continue to have supervised visitation, he said.

“He loves that child,” Black said. “He wants to be the dad this child deserves.”