12/02/2008

By MARY PEMBERTON  / Associated Press

Michael Wooten, the Alaska State Trooper at the center of the Troopergate scandal over whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power of office, is now embroiled in a power struggle of his own — a custody dispute with an ex-wife.

His 12-year-old son did not return to his mother's home in Washington state as planned at the end of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and Wooten's ex-wife is threatening legal action.

Cynthia Allocco of Vancouver, Wash., says her lawyer plans to seek an emergency court order to get the boy returned to her.

Wooten tells The Associated Press that the last custody order gave him primary physical custody of the boy, and that his son wants to live with him.

Wooten was also involved in a bitter divorce with another ex-wife, Palin's sister Molly McCann.