Mikesha Pauline Barnes v. Andrew Christopher Lee

Anoka, Minnesota family law lawyers represented the parties in a marriage dissolution child custody dispute.

Appellant Mikesha Pauline Barnes and respondent Andrew Christopher Lee divorced in April 2023 and share both physical and legal custody of two minor children. In October 2023, Barnes petitioned for an HRO against Lee.[1] The petition alleged that Lee had repeatedly sent harassing and insulting emails to Barnes, some of which included sexually explicit videos that were made while the parties were in a relationship. The petition further alleged that Lee had frightened Barnes by yelling at her during a custody exchange and that Lee shoved Barnes to the ground during an altercation at their son's football game. The district court issued an ex parte HRO, and Lee requested a hearing on the allegations in the petition.



At the hearing, the district court admitted 13 exhibits from Barnes into evidence. The exhibits contain copies of emails Lee sent to Barnes in September and October 2023. Several of the email discussions relate to disagreements over parenting issues, including whether: (1) Barnes should be added to the account for their older son's football league; (2) Barnes should attend the football games; and (3) their younger son should switch

daycares. In other email discussions, Lee berates Barnes for destroying their family and being unfaithful to him, says sometimes he "think[s] maybe [he] should've abused [Barnes] like [another man] did," tells Barnes that she has been looking pretty, "[i]t's not too late to try for a daughter," and that she should come home. Three of the emails contain video attachments; the videos themselves were not admitted into evidence but Barnes testified they were sexually explicit videos of the parties from when they were married. Barnes ultimately asked Lee to stop sending her sexually explicit messages, and Lee responded that he understood and would "comply."...



Barnes v. Lee, A24-0085 (Minn. App. Jul 22, 2024)