Mom Refuses Deployment: Faces Jail Time

Imagine going to jail for two years because you refused to leave your baby with a stranger in order to serve time in Afghanistan with your Army unit.  In the near future, this may be a reality for 21-year-old single mother Alexis Hutchinson.

Alexis was in the ROTC for three years and knew that joining the Army was what she wanted to do after graduation.  Becoming a soldier would give her a solid future, she told her family.  But her future in the Army was a far cry from what she dreamed about at such a young age.

Hutchinson was scheduled to serve in Afghanistan on November 4, 2009.  She had made plans with her mother to take care of her ten month old son, Kamani.  But these plans fell through just before her scheduled deployment.  In desperation, Alexis purposely missed the flight that carried her 3rd Infantry Division overseas.

On November 6, Alexis Hutchinson was arrested and kept for two days while her infant stayed in military day care.  After these two long days, Alexis returned home with her son and waited to hear what the Army had planned for her.

Not long after, Hutchinson was charged with insubordinate conduct toward a noncommissioned officer, with missing a movement, dereliction of duty and with being absent without leave.  If she is convicted of these charges, Alexis may spend up to two years in jail.

Alexis told reporters that she could not find a suitable child care replacement for her son in time for the deployment.  The Army says this is not entirely true, claiming that several organizations volunteered to take care of young Kamani while she was gone.  According to Army officials, Alexis Hutchinson refused help.

Both Hutchinson’s mother and lawyer claim this accusation is false.  According to them, the Army told Alexis her son may be placed in a foster home, potentially making it harder for her to claim the child when she returns.

Angeliqe Hughes is Alexis’ mother – the one who had initially said she would care for the baby.  Unfortunately, just before Alexis was due to leave, her mother’s sister became very ill.  Hughes was left to care for her sister as well as for her elderly mother and a home day care consisting of 14 children.  Taking on one more baby was out of the question for this overwhelmed woman.

Now, sadly, it is up to the Army to decide the fate of Alexis Hutchinson and her young son.