ABDUCTED TEEN YET TO CONTACT DAD.

Byline: Don Holland Daily News Staff Writer

A teen-ager who police say was abducted by his mother 16 years ago still is in shock and likely won't contact his natural father, an Oxnard schoolteacher, until a kidnapping charge against his mother is resolved.

The attorney for Michael Jones' mother said the youth has yet to contact his father, Robert Decker, who two weeks ago issued a televised invitation to call him and talk.

``His life is in turmoil right now, and I think he's trying to come to grips with that before he makes any contact,'' said Jay Johnson, a lawyer for Michelle Jones, formerly known as Linda Decker. ``She will support any position that Michael wants to take.

``If Michael wants to see Mr. Decker, it will happen,'' he said.

Johnson also said that Michael told his mother, ``I just can't think about this until I know you're going to be OK.''

Decker did not return phone calls.

His attorney, Theresa McConville, was at a loss to explain why Michelle Jones might have felt abandoned or fearful when she decided to walk away from her marriage and vanish with her son.

``There were no significant allegations made in 1981, certainly nothing that would justify what she did,'' said McConville, a Camarillo attorney who has worked on the case for 17 years.

She added that the then-Linda Decker never sought a restraining order against her ex-husband. And McConville noted that Linda Decker was ensconced at her parents' San Jose home when she phoned her husband to tell him the marriage was over.

``We're truly not aware of what the allegations are that she may or may not make later on in her defense.''

McConville said her client will seek the name and phone number of his son's counselor so he can find out directly how his son is doing.

Michael Jones was an honor student and track standout in Twin Lakes, Wis., and was unaware that his natural father is Robert Decker, whom his mother divorced in the early 1980s. The information came to light July 10, when Michelle Jones was arrested on an outstanding child abduction warrant while she was visiting relatives in Georgia.

Jones and her husband, William Jones, were in Ventura County on Friday for her scheduled arraignment, which was postponed until Aug. 28. Standing with the couple outside court, Johnson repeated earlier comments that his client had felt terrified and abandoned when she disappeared with her son when he was just 9 months old.

Jones faces one count of child stealing, punishable by up to three years in prison. She is free on bail and planned to return to Wisconsin until her next court date.