TEEN Mom 2 alum Jenelle Evans’ ex David Eason hasn’t tried to get in touch with his daughter Ensley, 7, since the nasty split from the reality star.
In an exclusive chat with The U.S. Sun, Jenelle’s divorce attorney, Brandon Pettijohn said that it is fully David’s right to see his daughter, he’s just chosen not to.
“As far as David seeing Ensley, absent a court order, both parents have 100% rights to their child all the time without that court order” the lawyer explained.
“To my knowledge, David has not attempted to contact Ensley, or tried to contact her through our offices, and he has my contact info,” he added.
In her complaint for separation, which was filed on February 23, Jenelle said David had not called to check in on his daughter while he was living on their boat, due to a protection order for her son Jace, 14.
“After the separation of the parties, defendant was aware that the minor child had a medical appointment with an ear, nose and throat doctor and that it would likely be that the minor child would need surgery.
“Defendant and made no inquiries as to the child’s well-being, treatment plan or status of the appointment,” her complaint read.
Despite the claims, David said during a TikTok live on Tuesday that he has tried to see Ensley.
“Yes, I can see her. I’ve tried to call, I’ve tried to text, no response, no answer, I tried to see the kids, she didn’t allow it,” he said of his ex.
Meanwhile, Jenelle’s attorney also explained what the next steps are likely to be in his client’s separation.
“During the separation period, we usually hammer out the various issues.”
He went on to explain that in North Carolina, during the separation period, which lasts a full year before a divorce can happen, spouses get their affairs in order as they prepare for the ultimate split.
“During the separation, you get all the things ready like child custody, support, and division of assets,” he explained.
When The U.S. Sun asked if Jenelle would be referring to David’s alleged strangulation of Jace during their proceedings, after she had mentioned the charges in her separation filing, the attorney declined to comment.
“At this time I’m not going to be able to comment because there is a pending criminal complaint, but I’ll be able to comment at some point.”
The U.S. Sun first exclusively reported that Jenelle filed for legal separation on February 23.
The star’s manager told The U.S. Sun that her estranged husband was allowed by police to stay in her home after an alleged attempted break-in in February.
It would appear, from Jenelle’s telling of it on TikTok, the alleged attempted break-in happened on February 24.
She captioned her TikTok post, “Part 1: My house was broken into last Saturday 02/24/2024 and this is my story.”
However, her manager, August Keen, gave a statement to The U.S. Sun, as reported earlier this week, in which he said David had stayed in their home for a few days after the break-in.
It was during this period that Jenelle decided to file for separation due to his behavior.
However, if Jenelle’s timeline is believed, and the break-in happened on February 24, it doesn’t add up since at that point she had already filed for separation from David the day prior.
Jenelle’s manager said in his statement, “During the very traumatic experience Jenelle and Jace endured during the break-in the police allowed for David to come home to protect his family, during those few days together, Jenelle expressed to me that David had said a few things that caused her to make her final decision and submit the documents for separation.
“The ball was in his court and unfortunately he didn’t take the time while being together during this moment to ease her suffering or worry. This is what ultimately led to the legal separation.”
JENELLE FILES FOR SEPARATION
In Jenelle’s filing for separation, she referred to David’s alleged assault on Jace late last year.
“On or about September 28 of 2023, a report was made to medical professionals by plaintiff’s oldest minor child.”
Jenelle said in her filing that after the sheriff’s office investigated the allegations, David was “subsequently charged with misdemeanor child abuse and felony assault by strangulation.”
In the papers, the reality star also confirmed that after months of having Jace in their custody, DSS filed a “notice of involuntary dismissal in Columbus County.”
“Despite the voluntary dismissal of the underlying DSS proceedings, the defendant’s criminal case is still pending and the defendant is subject to several no-contact provisions in the aforementioned criminal case,” Jenelle said.
“Since the DSS case was voluntarily dismissed, and primary physical custody of [Jace] reverted back to plaintiff, defendant left the former marital residence at the behest of plaintiff so that [he] could return home with plaintiff and his siblings,” she continued.
In the filing, Jenelle said that David is currently living on her boat, which is docked in a nearby marina.
The ex Teen Mom alum also complained that, since David had been living on the boat, he had not checked in on her or inquired about Ensley.
“Plaintiff has been spending his days drinking liquor at a bar near the marina,” she alleged.
