Siamese Twins’ Father Queried on Funds Use

Kenneth Lakeberg is fighting legal and ethical battles while his 7 1/2-week-old daughter struggles for life in Philadelphia after being separated from her Siamese twin last week.

Lakeberg, 26, admitted Wednesday to a drug and alcohol problem as he fended off questions of a possible jail sentence and accusations that he has abused charitable donations.

He could be sentenced next week to a year in jail for violating a probation term received after a knife fight last Christmas. He also has failed to account for at least $1,300 in donations he received in the past week, said his attorney, James Lakin.

“I’ve got a few problems, but I’m not a criminal. This has all gone too far,” Lakeberg said after visiting his daughter, Angela, in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

“The main story is Angela--not my dirty laundry. . . . I do have a drug and alcohol problem and I’ll admit to that. But I’m getting help for that.”

Lakeberg returned to Philadelphia on Tuesday night after coming to northwest Indiana briefly to bury daughter Amy, who died during the separation surgery.

Lakeberg has admitted using marijuana, cocaine and alcohol in violation of a one-year probation term he received May 21, when he agreed to a reduced misdemeanor battery charge stemming from the Christmas scuffle.

Meanwhile, the Lakebergs’ attorney said the couple has spent about $7,900 of the $9,200 collected in an account at a bank near their Wheatfield home.

About $5,600 was spent on a used Chevrolet to replace the family’s battered 1978 Ford, Lakin said.

Other money was used to pay household bills, and Lakin sent Lakeberg’s 24-year-old wife, Reitha, $400 on Monday.

However, in an interview with WBBM-TV in Chicago, Lakeberg said: “Sure, I went out and had some fun, but the fun’s over, man. We ate at nice places. We traveled good. I mean, I think we deserved at least that much.”