Maureen Blake, the Purcellville mother charged in connection with her children’s excessive tardies was convicted today by a Loudoun County Circuit Court judge.

Judge Thomas Horne found Blake guilty of three Class 3 misdemeanor charges, one for each child in failing to assist the school in complying to the attendance requirements.

However, the judge gave Blale a chance to change her ways. Horne suspended Blake’s charges for one year to see if she is able to get her children to school on time. Otherwise, the mother will face a $1,500 fine.
According to Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Joshua Steward, 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.

Blake was represented by attorney Alexis Downing.

Blake was served a warrant Jan. 21, requiring 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.

According to court records,  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.

Parents aren’t usually brought before a judge for their children’s tardiness, however prosecutors said Blake’s case was excessive.

“One minute late to school could be charged with [a Class 3 misdemeanor], definitely. I could be driving down the road and throw a gum wrapper out the window,” Steward mentioned. “There are many laws considered absurd – but it’s the law. You have to make some effort to get your kid [to school].

Blake was first notified of the excessive tardies in 2009 and was later brought to court in 2010, where she pleaded no contest and paid $1,850 in fines for her four children – one of whom 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 affects her daily life. She went on to tell the court that last year one of her children was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). But, as of now, all three of her children are diagnosed ADHD and medicated.

“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.

“They’re less defiant and less easily distracted,” Blake said of her children now that they are medicated. “It was difficult for them to understand that they needed to focus at the task at hand and get to school.”

Blake, who has joint custody of her children with her ex-husband is responsible for getting her children to school on Thursdays. According to Lori Melcher, attendance officer for LCPS, Blake’s children were constantly tardy on that day of the week.

Although Blake has hired a life coach to help her with her disability and both she and her children see psychologists and psychiatrists, Steward argued her excuses for tardiness acknowledges her responsibility.
“The defendant is making excuses for being late, therefore she is aware of being late,” Steward said. “Ms. Blake is clearly aware of her responsibility.”

According to Melcher, some of Blake’s excuses were she couldn’t find a specific skirt for her daughter, she overslept, the family had spilled food items that needed to be cleaned up and occasionally the children didn’t know why they were late.

Blake isn’t the first Loudoun County parent to make headlines for her children’s tardiness.

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