A LAS Vegas man who claims he was repeatedly raped by his own mom as a child now fears his brother could actually be his son.
Logan Gifford, a 26-year-old man, has accused his mother Doreene of sexually assaulting him for a period of over six years. He is currently engaged in a legal battle to uncover whether the alleged abuse could have led to him fathering a child.
Doreene was sentenced in 2015 to up to 20 years behind bars over charges of attempted sex assault after taking a plea deal.Â
Logan testified against his mom after he reported the attacks which he claims only stopped when he was aged 16.
Doreene has always maintained her innocence over the sexual abuse allegations.
After his mom was locked up, Logan has been forced to help look after his younger brother, 15.
In the years since, Logan has started to believe he could be the rightful father of the teen due to several concerning reasons.
He believes his brother would have been conceived in late 2008 which is when Logan recalls one of the alleged sexual abuses taking place.Â
The youngster, whose identity hasn’t been revealed by Logan, also needs regular help as he struggles with cognitive difficulties.
Children born as a result of incest face a much higher risk of genetic disorders and disabilities.Â
Speaking with the Las Vegas Review Journal, Logan admitted he believes he could be the father.Â
He told the outlet: “Look at the mess that I’m left with. I didn’t ask for any of this”
Logan is now asking the courts in Las Vegas to allow him to take a paternity test so he can determine if he is the parent.
Expressing his distress, Logan stated, “I was just a child when all of this unfolded. And yet, now, I find myself grappling with the aftermath of a situation that continues to have a significant impact on my life, compelling me to confront it head-on.”
“I feel that as though it is my obligation or my duty to [him] to do this and find out who his biological father really is.”
His attorney Timothy Treffinger told the outlet that Doreene has always denied Logan could be the father.
She has also said she is open for a paternity test to take place, the attorney added.
Logan was first told he could be the father to his brother when he was 17 years old by his therapist at the time.
The idea threw him “for a loop”, he said.
He currently has temporary guardianship over the boy with the pair living together.
If Logan is confirmed as the father then the court hearing will become a custody matter.
As per Logan’s legal representative, the major challenge in ascertaining the identity of the teenager’s father lies in distinguishing Logan’s DNA from his possible fathers, as both individuals would naturally exhibit shared genetic material irrespective of paternity.
Logan added: “To sit here and say that my brother may be the product of my sexual assault is a very visceral thing to think about as a male survivor.
“But he’s here now. There’s no going back and undoing anything.
“And he deserves to have a quality of life where he’s comfortable, where he can be a kid.”
Logan’s disgraced mom Doreene was jailed after she accepted a plea in the case known as an Alford plea.
It comes when a defendant acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence for a conviction but it isn’t seen as an admission of guilt.
Her defence team said at the time of Doreene’s sentencing that Logan’s version of events during his six years of hell was littered with inconsistencies due to his hatred towards his mom.
They added that Doreene herself was brought up around abusive parents who were in and out of prison as well as an abusive foster system.
She was also known to abuse crystal meth during an abusive relationship to Logan’s dad.
Doreene was released on parole last July but was quickly arrested a few months later after she violated a condition of her parole when she contacted the victim. Â
She is now set to go before of a parole violation hearing in April and is reportedly being held inside Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Center.Â
