Woman: A sleep disorder landed my husband in jail
KEIZER, Ore. -- It appears sleep disorders can go far beyond snoring and nightmares.
One Oregon family says a newly-discovered sleep disorder is to blame for the nightmare they're now living. Randi Kearns is now facing a court battle as a result of her husband's REM sleep behavior disorder.
Police arrested her husband, Adam Kearns, on Feb. 20 for domestic violence after he punched her three times in the face. However, both the husband and the wife say the man was fast asleep.
Since the incident, Adam Kearns has been ordered by a judge not to have contact with his wife. The two have three boys, and have been living apart for two months now.
"Every day that I can't see her, it just...she's my soul mate," said Adam Kearns.
Adam Kearns, who said he still does not remember anything about those punches, was recently diagnosed with a "probable case" of REM behavior disorder. He has no previous criminal record.
He says being banned from seeing his wife is destroying him. The two have been married 10 years and, Randi Kearns said until this bizarre incident, he had never hurt her and never intentionally would.
Adam Kearns says it's frustrating that authorities don't believe him when it comes to this newly-diagnosed condition.
"You can only tell somebody something so many times," he said.
Randi Kearns said she was awake the night her husband punched her, having woken to the sound of her son crying. As she was getting out of bed, her husband jumped up and punched her three times in the face, then fell back asleep. Her parents, who were living with the couple at the time, said they ran into the room to find Adam Kearns snoring.
However, when they called an ambulance to tend to Randi Kearn's face, things took an even bigger turn for the worse, the family said.
In Oregon, medical personnel are "mandatory reporters," which means they are required by tate law to report any domestic incidents involving violence to police.
Once Keizer police were notified they say they were required by state law to make at least one arrest if an assault had occurred between household members.
Domestic abuse victim advocates laud the Oregon laws as a way to protect those who have been abused and are unable to stand up against their abuser.
Adam and Randi Kearns, however, say they're living proof that laws meant to protect the innocent also can hurt them.
One Oregon family says a newly-discovered sleep disorder is to blame for the nightmare they're now living. Randi Kearns is now facing a court battle as a result of her husband's REM sleep behavior disorder.
Police arrested her husband, Adam Kearns, on Feb. 20 for domestic violence after he punched her three times in the face. However, both the husband and the wife say the man was fast asleep.
Since the incident, Adam Kearns has been ordered by a judge not to have contact with his wife. The two have three boys, and have been living apart for two months now.
"Every day that I can't see her, it just...she's my soul mate," said Adam Kearns.
Adam Kearns, who said he still does not remember anything about those punches, was recently diagnosed with a "probable case" of REM behavior disorder. He has no previous criminal record.
He says being banned from seeing his wife is destroying him. The two have been married 10 years and, Randi Kearns said until this bizarre incident, he had never hurt her and never intentionally would.
Adam Kearns says it's frustrating that authorities don't believe him when it comes to this newly-diagnosed condition.
"You can only tell somebody something so many times," he said.
Randi Kearns said she was awake the night her husband punched her, having woken to the sound of her son crying. As she was getting out of bed, her husband jumped up and punched her three times in the face, then fell back asleep. Her parents, who were living with the couple at the time, said they ran into the room to find Adam Kearns snoring.
However, when they called an ambulance to tend to Randi Kearn's face, things took an even bigger turn for the worse, the family said.
In Oregon, medical personnel are "mandatory reporters," which means they are required by tate law to report any domestic incidents involving violence to police.
Once Keizer police were notified they say they were required by state law to make at least one arrest if an assault had occurred between household members.
Domestic abuse victim advocates laud the Oregon laws as a way to protect those who have been abused and are unable to stand up against their abuser.
Adam and Randi Kearns, however, say they're living proof that laws meant to protect the innocent also can hurt them.
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