Since becoming the primary custody judge in Beaver County in 2018, Judge Deborah Decostro has consistently allowed, condoned, and even praises abusive behaviors in custody cases. Her rulings have created the persona of a judge who favors abusers, using the legal system to silence and disempower protective parents. Instead of prioritizing the well-being and safety of children, she has issued reckless decisions that endanger lives and inflict long-term trauma.

We, the undersigned parents, caregivers, and concerned residents of Beaver County, demand an immediate investigation into Judge Deborah Decostro’s handling of custody cases. Her decisions demonstrate a troubling pattern of judicial misconduct that puts children and protective parents at risk while enabling abusers to maintain control through the court system.

A Troubling History of Recklessness & Abuse of Power

Judge Deborah Decostro should have never been given the power to make decisions regarding children's lives due to her own history of unlawful and unethical behavior regarding child custody.

In 1998, she took, withheld, and kept a child from their mother for two years against the mother’s will, attempting to unlawfully adopt the child. Although she miraculously avoided criminal charges, the severity of her actions cannot be ignored.

Her reckless and destructive behavior has harmed children and families for decades. Now, as a judge, she continues to abuse her power—this time, with full judicial immunity. Judges may have legal protections, but that does not mean they should be shielded from accountability. Legal and civil consequences must be seriously considered for the devastation she has caused throughout Beaver County.

Judge Decostro’s Pattern of Judicial Misconduct

Ignoring Evidence of Abuse: She disregards crucial medical and psychological documentation proving abuse consistently ruling in favor of the abuser. She enables abusers to use the court system to maintain power and control.

Endangering Children: She forces children into unsafe environments, even when they express fear and distress.

Silencing Children’s Voices: She accuses children of lying or manipulating when they speak out about abuse, reinforcing trauma.

Punishing Protective Parents: Parents who try to shield their children from harm face fines, probation, jail time, and even loss of custody.

Encouraging Parental Alienation: She sides with abusive parents and severs healthy parental bonds, worsening emotional trauma.

Mandating Forced Communication: She forces daily contact between abusive and protective parents, even in cases involving harassment and threats. Severe consequences are given when failure to do so.

Prohibiting Protective Measures: She blocks parents from obtaining Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders or calling the police when their children are in danger.

Enabling Financial Abuse: She allows abusers to repeatedly file unnecessary court motions, draining protective parents’ resources while using lack of legal representation against them.

Overlooking Neglect: She ignores when abusive parents fail to provide basic necessities like clothing, hygiene, and school supplies—forcing protective parents to bear the full burden in both homes. Ignores abusive parent’s deliberate withholding, destruction, or refusal to return belongings. Enabling abusers to exert further control and distress over protective parents by refusing to acknowledge this as financial abuse.

Encouraging Physical Force: She condones using physical force against children who resist visitation with an abusive parent.

Persuading Parents to Waive Court Recordings: She pressures parents into holding custody hearings off the record, shutting off the courtroom monitor that records proceedings. This tactic ensures there is no legal record of her unethical and unjust decisions, making it even harder for parents to appeal or hold her accountable.

Restricting Children's Access to Extracurricular Activities: She allows abusers to deny children access to sports, clubs, and educational programs, depriving them of essential childhood experiences and personal growth opportunities such as:

Friendships and social bonds
Collaborative learning and teamwork skills
Social discipline, responsibility, and structure
Confidence, patience, and accountability
Emotional growth, empathy, and resilience

Her actions further isolate children from normal social interactions, stifling their emotional and personal growth while reinforcing the abuser’s control.

The Devastating Impact on Children & Families

Judge Decostro’s reckless and dangerous decisions are creating an entire generation of children who will suffer from proven mental health disorders and behavioral issues due to the ongoing trauma she facilitates.

Her rulings contribute to the development of severe psychological conditions, including:

Anxiety and depression
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD)
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Schizoid Personality Disorder
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Emotional Dysregulation and Explosive Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Avoidant Personality Disorder
Dependent Personality Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
Antisocial Personality Disorder (Sociopathy)
Addiction

As well as exacerbating CNS (central nervous system) and autoimmune disorders.

Further, she is subjecting children to an increased risk of:

Academic struggles and social isolation, as children are denied basic stability and access to activities.
Continued cycles of abuse, as children grow up believing that their voices don’t matter and that abuse is tolerated.
Self-harm, substance abuse, and destructive behaviors resulting from untreated childhood trauma
Incarceration - Judge Decostro contributes to cycles of childhood abuse, neglect and trauma that studies have proven are directly linked to higher rates of juvenile delinquency and future incarceration.
Poverty - research shows that childhood trauma caused by abuse and neglect significantly increases future financial instability. Academic struggles due to childhood abuse and trauma is a significant factor. Leading to difficulty maintaining employment while struggling with social interactions and behaviors in professional settings.

Rather than providing a path to stability and safety, she is creating generational trauma, reinforcing patterns of abuse, and leading children toward lifelong struggles with mental health and relationships.

Our Demands

Launch an immediate investigation into Judge Decostro’s rulings and patterns of judicial misconduct.

Implement mandatory psychological training within the judicial system to ensure stronger protections for children and parents to prevent unjust custody decisions that favor abusers.

Establish judicial accountability measures to ensure all judges prioritize child safety in custody cases.

Explore legal and civil consequences for the irreparable harm Judge Decostro has caused to families in Beaver County.

Join Us—Sign & Share This Petition!

This is not just about individual cases—this is a community crisis. Every child deserves a safe, stable, and loving environment. No parent should be punished for protecting their child, and no judge should abuse their power.

Sign and share this petition today to demand justice and accountability!

Beaver County Families Stand Together for Justice!

Mitchell Shahen

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