On
behalf of Askvig & Johnson, PLLP
Authorities
recently arrested a 50-year-old man in Ohio who owes hundreds of thousands of
dollars in unpaid child support payments. After ignoring court cases and
evading warrants for four years, police finally tracked the man down after a
stake out at his friend’s home.
The man has been accused of owing approximately $368,000 in back child support to the
mothers of his various children. While it is unclear just how many children
he has, authorities admit the man has 24 support cases pending just in the state of
Ohio. He is currently being held in jail for 390 days: 30 days for each of
the 13 contempt of court warrants issued against him. According to Chief Deputy
Ted Patrick, “As far as child support cases go, he was public enemy number
one.”
What
does this mean for residents in Minnesota? Just like in Ohio, a Minnesota
resident in contempt of child support payments could risk going to jail if he
or she does not pay a support obligation.
The Minnesota Department of Human
Services is the state agency that regulates child support. Each county has a
support and enforcement office. The child support agency can ask the court to
find a parent in contempt of court if he or she was ordered to pay support,
knew about the order, and has refused to pay without good reason. The child
support agency can pursue a contempt action if:
- The non-custodial parent owes support according
to an order or decree for support;
- The non-custodial parent owes court-ordered
child support or maintenance arrears in an amount at least three times their
total monthly support and maintenance obligation; and
- The non-custodial parent is not complying with a
written payment plan approved by the court or the child support agency.
If
found in contempt, the court can then order the parent to
serve a jail sentence.
Source: CNN, “Fugitive arrested for owing $300K in child support,” Lorrie Taylor, February 4, 2015.
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