Former Army Col. Scott Carlson was sentenced to 4 to 23 months in Cumberland County Prison this afternoon for convincing a fellow Army War College student to take a paternity test for him.
President Judge Edgar B. Bayley imposed the penalty after Carlson's lawyer, Dennis Boyle, urged that the retired officer be given probation instead.
Boyle said Carlson, 53, of Swansea, Ill., will appeal the sentence.
Bayley said he sent Carlson to prison because the crime "struck at the heart" of the county Domestic Relations Office's efforts to ensure children receive support.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Derek Clepper said the prison term was exactly what he was seeking.
A county jury convicted Carlson in September on charges including theft by deception, obstruction of justice and conspiracy.
Authorities said that in April 2007 Carlson persuaded fellow war college student Bruce Adkins to go to the Domestic Relations office in his stead and provide a DNA sample for a paternity test.
Investigators said Carlson, who retired from the Army this past summer, was trying to avoid paying child support for a 10-year-old daughter he had fathered through an extramarital affair with an enlisted soldier.
Carlson had been paying support for the girl without a court order, but in late 2006 the mother asked for a higher amount of court-ordered support.
Adkins testified against Carlson and is scheduled for trial in January. Clepper didn't rule out the possibility that Adkins might be offered a plea deal. more
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Domestic matters before courts steadily increasing
The number of domestic matters before the courts are steadily increasing each year and as of late child support cases are also on the rise, Deputy Magistrate Helen Jones revealed.
Noting that a total of 698 domestic matters were filed for the year in Grand Bahama alone, Jones said that number is up 19 from last year, which saw 679 cases.
Within five years, the case load of domestic matters increased by 216.
In 2003, 482 cases were filed; 536 in 2004; 598 in 2005 and in 2006, there were 621 cases.
"The majority of cases that have come to my court lately have been child support," Magistrate Jones said, pointing out that usually most of the domestic matters would be binding over orders and legal separations. more
Noting that a total of 698 domestic matters were filed for the year in Grand Bahama alone, Jones said that number is up 19 from last year, which saw 679 cases.
Within five years, the case load of domestic matters increased by 216.
In 2003, 482 cases were filed; 536 in 2004; 598 in 2005 and in 2006, there were 621 cases.
"The majority of cases that have come to my court lately have been child support," Magistrate Jones said, pointing out that usually most of the domestic matters would be binding over orders and legal separations. more
Andre Rison former WR for the Chiefs , is facing court-ordered bankruptcy
Andre Rison, who played WR for the Chiefs from 1997 to 1999, is facing court-ordered bankruptcy.
Former NFL and Michigan State receiver Andre Rison faces a court-ordered bankruptcy to pay more than $105,000 in back child support and other claims.
Terese Dear, a courtroom deputy for U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Flint, said an order was entered June 6 to put Rison into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Rison, a Flint native, has until June 25 to respond before the court proceeds with efforts to recover his assets, Dear said.
Rison owes child support, attorney fees and court administrative costs, according to a bankruptcy court petition.
Rison's ex-wife, Tonja Rison of Southfield, is listed as one of the creditors. Her claim is for more than $58,000 in child support. An Atlanta law office is claiming another $46,000 in unpaid legal fees for seeking child support from Rison for two children by a girlfriend. more
Former NFL and Michigan State receiver Andre Rison faces a court-ordered bankruptcy to pay more than $105,000 in back child support and other claims.
Terese Dear, a courtroom deputy for U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Flint, said an order was entered June 6 to put Rison into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Rison, a Flint native, has until June 25 to respond before the court proceeds with efforts to recover his assets, Dear said.
Rison owes child support, attorney fees and court administrative costs, according to a bankruptcy court petition.
Rison's ex-wife, Tonja Rison of Southfield, is listed as one of the creditors. Her claim is for more than $58,000 in child support. An Atlanta law office is claiming another $46,000 in unpaid legal fees for seeking child support from Rison for two children by a girlfriend. more
Parents Say Beware of Bogus Child Support Collection Companies
MEMPHIS, TN -- If you are paying child support in Tennessee, you may want to make sure it is going to the proper location. If not, you might not get credit for the payment and you could end up in jail. Mitch Morgan is the director of the Child Support Services division at the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County. Morgan says many times, parents are sending money to a private collection agency, but they think they are sending money to the state.Morgan says a company operating in the Memphis area is called “Child Support Services.” Morgan says the name is deceiving. Many parents think when they call that agency; they are calling the Juvenile Court. Morgan says the paperwork the company sends out looks like the official state paperwork. Morgan says the company illegally issues wage garnishments. That means the money is taken directly from the person’s paycheck. The company lists an address of 111 S. Highland, Suite 415. When Eyewitness News went to that location, we found a UPS Store. “Suite 415” is really a post office box. If you call information, you are told the company is located at 202 S. Court. However, when we went to that address it was a downtown parking lot.Anthony Strong has had child support taken out of his paycheck since April. Strong says even though the money is being garnished, his ex-wife is not getting the money. “Right now I feel taken advantage of “says Strong. He added “I feel sorry for my daughter because she is not getting the support I thought I was giving her.” more
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
DNA test doesn’t stop Oklahoma man's child support liability
"She said, ‘Yeah, 100 percent sure you’re the dad,’ so I didn’t question it past that,” the man said.
But that man, who asked to remain anonymous because of pending litigation, says testing shows otherwise. He provided The Oklahoman with a copy of genetic test results dated Nov. 10 from Identigene showing he is not the father. State law, though, compels him to continue paying child support even though he’s not a biological parent — and there are more like him.
Nearly 25 percent of about 3,000 paternity tests conducted by the state Department of Human Services from July 2007 through June ruled out the supposed father as the biological parent. Nationally, that number reaches nearly 30 percent, according to the American Association of Blood Banks.
State limitsDHS only performs genetic testing within the first two years of a child’s life, which is the state limit on contesting paternity.
After the two years, "it comes into the best interests of the child and protecting the child to ensure that there’s a source of reliable support,” said Jeff Wagner, spokesman for the DHS Child Support Enforcement Division.
The child the Oklahoma man pays child support for is nearly 5 years old. more
But that man, who asked to remain anonymous because of pending litigation, says testing shows otherwise. He provided The Oklahoman with a copy of genetic test results dated Nov. 10 from Identigene showing he is not the father. State law, though, compels him to continue paying child support even though he’s not a biological parent — and there are more like him.
Nearly 25 percent of about 3,000 paternity tests conducted by the state Department of Human Services from July 2007 through June ruled out the supposed father as the biological parent. Nationally, that number reaches nearly 30 percent, according to the American Association of Blood Banks.
State limitsDHS only performs genetic testing within the first two years of a child’s life, which is the state limit on contesting paternity.
After the two years, "it comes into the best interests of the child and protecting the child to ensure that there’s a source of reliable support,” said Jeff Wagner, spokesman for the DHS Child Support Enforcement Division.
The child the Oklahoma man pays child support for is nearly 5 years old. more
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