Maureen Blake appeared once again in court today, only to have the judge recuse himself.

Blake, 42, of Purcellville, was found guilty Feb. 29 of three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, Class 2 misdemeanors and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine for each of her three children. She was also ordered to pay $3,000 in court fees.

Loudoun County Circuit Court Judge James Chamblin previously worked on a case between Blake and her now ex-husband where Chamblin said Blake “attacked credibility” of the prosecuting attorney.

“I’m not going to place myself in the position where you don’t like the outcome,” Chamblin said to Blake. “So I’m going to excuse myself from this case.”

Blake was served a warrant on Jan. 21, informing her to appear in court on Jan. 25. She was released on a $3,000 bond the same day.

Her three children attend Lincoln Elementary in western Loudoun, close to where another family, the Denicore’s children attend and have been cited for excessive tardies.

Mark and Amy Denicore case was dismissed June 6 after they were summoned back in February for their daughter Sophie’s excessive tardies to school. The Denicore’s three children have been tardy 85 times since September, but have only missed less than three hours each of school.

In Blake’s case between Sept. 10, 2011, and Jan. 19, 2012, her 7-year-old was late 11 times, her 9-year-old was late nine times and her 10-year-old was late 10 times.

Blake first got notice of the excessive tardies in 2009 and was later brought to court in 2010, where she pleaded no contest and paid $1,850 total in fines for her four children – one which is now in middle school.
After she was arrested in January, her children have only been late twice.

Blake defended her children’s tardies, saying she has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, which effects her daily life. She said that her husband bought her an electric teapot because she had burned six teapots in one year by placing them on the stove and forgetting about them.

“I have outsourced the driving which is helpful as the driver is less prone to misplace things like glasses and keys and purse as I am prone to do at times,” Blake said.

“I hired a life coach two years ago, as well as have had therapists and counselors over the years both individually and for my children to work on family issues,” she continued. “I currently have two doctors I work with to manage my own medical issues in conjunction with my life coach, medication and support of medical care and friends who are supportive in assisting are essential for me to remain organized and successful.”

According to the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, Blake was in violation of Virginia Code and the Student Rights and Responsibilities Act that says students should be in school the same amount of hours each day.

The case will now go before Judge Burke McCahill. Prosecuting attorney of the Commonwealth Attorney’s office, Joshua Steward and Blake’s attorney Alexis Downing will appear in court Aug.16 at 10 a.m. along with Blake for her trial.