JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- This week one of the 18 Duval County parents arrested because their children missed too much school challenged the system for not helping him.
Justin Frier Sr. was arrested on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and failure to comply with compulsory school attendance laws. Both are misdemeanors and can carry jail time up to one year.
"He missed a lot of school between last year and this year due to doctor's appointments," said Frier about the absences of his 8 year-old who has epilepsy.
The father says he had no idea that he faced being arrested.
The State Attorney's Office says Frier was counseled both at the school level and by their office.
"By the time it got to us we had numerous meetings, " said Alan Louder who heads up truancy investigations for the State Attorney's Office.
"The child does have some issues, but the school district provided services for that kid because of his issues," said Louder who was familiar with the case having personally been involved.
In one case, a child missed 239 days of school over three years. Collectively the children of the parents arrested missed nearly 18 years of school over the same time span according to the State Attorney's Office
The parents if convicted could be sentenced up to a year in jail.
