Things you might not know about child-support payments

by Your Voices
Monday August 03, 2009, 2:05 PM

Voice: Dan Fish, Bay City

Ten things you might not know about friend of the court:

1. In the summer and on holidays when you have your kids 50 percent of the time, you still have to pay the full amount. They just changed this one. If you can't feed your kids, oh well. Pay up.

2. When your arrearage hits $2,000, it goes on your credit report. You can get out of credit card and bad mortgage debt, but nobody will help you with this debt. Bankruptcy is not an option. This is your fault.

3. It doesn't matter who left who, or who cheated on who. Michigan is a no-fault state. Quit whining and pay up.

4. Your children, no matter how old, are not allowed in hearings or conferences. They are not important. Your money is. Bring it.

5. Whatever you do, do not do any side work or play in a band. You will regret it.

6. When you lose your job or get laid off, your support amount does not go down. How dare you lose your job. Pay up.

7. You pay the taxes on child support. If you are behind, you do not get tax returns or stimulus checks. Oh well.

8. If you quit your job, you can get a lawyer and health insurance. If you work for minimum wage, forget it. You need to make more money.

9. Don't bother bringing in past-due bills or eviction notices. Not important. If you think your ex is not spending the money on your kids, accountability is not an option. Pay up.

10. It doesn't matter if you or your ex is living with anybody. If you live alone, that's your fault.

If this seems kind of bitter, you would be, too. So I'd like to thank all the real "deadbeat dads" that don't care about their kids for making things harder for the rest of us.

Thursday, July 30, 2009 Girl 'thrown off cliff by her father to avoid child support'

A dad threw his four-year-old daughter off a cliff to avoid paying child support, a court heard yesterday.

Cameron Brown, 47, allegedly took Lauren to an isolated spot where they could not be seen.

He is then said to have grabbed her and hurled her 120ft into the sea.

It is the second time Brown has been on trial for the alleged murder after the jury failed to reach a decision three years ago.

The American was said to have been trying to dodge his £608-a-month child support to Sarah KeyMarer, a British woman who emigrated to the US.

Deputy district attorney Craig Hum told Los Angeles superior court: "This man picked up Lauren, whom he fathered but was never a father to, and threw her off a cliff into the waters."

Brown said the death at Rancho Palos Verdes, near LA, in 2000 was an accident. The trial continues.

This is a sad day in bed rock when a man choose to kill his own child to avoid paying child support. I think that this low life deserves the death penalty. The premeditated act that was committed by this father shows that he not only did not care about himself or his child. Although I do have a problem with the Court system putting children on men who are not a participating member of the child's life. If their is never any contact with the child, why should anyone have to pay child support? If a man says that he does not want the child and the woman decides to keep that child, it should be her responsibility and only hers! Until their is some continuity and equality in making choices in custody and the amount of money paid, their will remain confusion and men representing decision that are very unorthodox. Maybe with more news exposure of how unfair the child support system are, it can help to remedy several problems within the child support system.

Nas ordered to pay Kelis $44,000 a month in child support for baby born Wednesday

LOS ANGELES – A judge has ordered Nas to pay Kelis nearly $40,000 in monthly support for the near future, a day after the "Milkshake" singer gave birth to the divorcing couple's baby boy.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Louis Meisinger issued the order at a Thursday hearing. Neither Nas, whose full name is Nasir Jones, nor Kelis, whose full name is Kelis Rogers, attended Thursday's hearing.

Rogers will receive $30,471 in spousal support per month; the couple's son will receive $9,027, according to the court records.

Rogers gave birth to the boy, named Knight, at a New York hospital Wednesday. The 29-year-old filed for divorce from the rapper in April. The couple was married in July 2003.

The two have been sparring over support payments for several months, with Rogers contending that Jones hasn't paid many of the costs of her pregnancy and her expenses. His attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, told the judge that the rapper has paid $30,000 in expenses and the former couple's health insurance has been maintained.

A hearing on whether the payments should be altered will be heard on Sept. 8.

Kaplan proposed paying Rogers a one-time payment of $20,000 until the judge could settle on an appropriate spousal and child support amount at a later hearing.

Meisinger rejected that offer, saying more money per month would be needed to accommodate Rogers' lifestyle and was warranted based on income declarations filed with the court.

Meisinger told Rogers' attorney, Laura Wasser, that the singer has 30 days to decide whether to return to the couple's Los Angeles home. Jones is paying to maintain the property in the meantime.

The judge also ordered Jones to pay $45,000 to pay Rogers' attorney fees and for a forensic accountant.

That is a large sum of money for a baby just born, $528, 000 dollars a year. I can see she is smiling now and she does have a good reason. The one thing that you must understand is that Nas makes about 2 million a year and the income that he is paying is a lot. I personally think that is entirely to much, don't get me wrong but $20,000 a month for a new born is more in line with what he should pay for now. As the child gets older then gradually increase the child support. The ideal is to allow the child to continue to live in a lifestyle that he is used to. So if the child knows not what to expect then why give his mother that much money? Child support is suppose to help the child not increase the mothers financial status.

Ex-pro baseball player faces sentencing for child support evasion

A sentencing hearing was scheduled Friday for one of the state's most wanted child support evaders.

Former pro baseball player Troy Neel was arrested in December for not paying child support.

He owes more than $725,000 for more than eight years of missed payments.

Neel used to play baseball for the Oakland A's and professionally in Japan.

He's charged with fleeing the country to avoid paying.

He could serve up to two years in prison.

Hixson Man Who Owes Over $116,000 In Child Support Faces Federal Charges

A Hixson man who owes almost $117,000 in child support is facing federal charges in Federal Court in Chattanooga. The criminal complaint was brought against Shaun M. Martin after a special agent of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said he had worked regularly, but made few payments to his wife and son in Indiana since first ordered to do so in 1995. Agent David R. White of Indianapolis said Martin was ordered to pay $169 per week for the support of his son, who was born in 1994. He said Martin left his wife and moved with a girlfriend to either Switzerland and Taiwan when his son was very young. The agent said Martin has maintained jobs while moving frequently, but only made a few child support payments when his wages were garnisheed. He said Martin's wife two years ago came to the residence of Martin's father on Cove Ridge Drive in Hixson and spoke in person with Martin about the back child support payments. She said she told him she was willing to go to court with him and get the amount owed reduced if he would just start paying something. She said he told her that was a great idea, but he never appeared with her in court. The agent said Martin now lives with a girlfriend in an apartment on S. Dent Road in Hixson and works at the Sears Outlet Store on Highway 153.

Akon Served Child Support Papers At Michael Jackson's Memorial?

Singer/producer Akon may be stacking millions of dollars, but according to reports, he is not sharing the wealth with one of his children. TMZ reported that the mother of one of Akon's children, has been trying to serve him child support papers but with no luck. The site also stated that she even went so far as to attempt to serve him during Michael Jackson's public memorial srevice, which he attended last week.

Sarah Coleman, the mother of the 6-month old child in question, claims that Akon has yet to respond to her petition after taking a paternity test. Despite going public, Coleman's lawyer, Patrick Baghdaserians, stated that her goal is to keep the matter private.

"My client does not wish to comment on the paternity matter," said Baghdaserians said in a statement. "Ms. Coleman wants to ensure privacy and a amicable resolution. My client's goal is to resolve this matter forthwith without media intervention."

Akon refuted Coleman's claims that he has been uncooperative, and released a separate statement. "Akon has taken responsibility and has been extremely cooperative and proactive in handling this private matter," said his rep. "Paternity was only established just over 30 days ago. Since the case was filed outside of Georgia jurisdiction, where he is a legal resident, Akon is currently in the process of engaging counsel in California and will continue to handle this matter in a timely manner."

A native of Senegal, a country in West Africa, Akon built his fortune as a solo artist and producer. He is responsible for signing mega-acts T-Pain and Lady Gaga to his Konvict Music Label, and raked in a reported $20 million last year. He also has five other children from previous relationships.

'Amnesty day' offered for those behind in paying child support

ST. JOSEPH - It's not a get out of jail free card.But parents who owe child support and are wanted on civil bench warrants in Berrien County will soon have a chance to avoid arrest and make a clean start.A one-day amnesty program June 26 will allow parents who are delinquent in support payments and sought on civil warrants to talk to the Friend of the Court staff without fear of arrest.Parents who show up for the event at the Berrien County Courthouse in St. Joseph can freely discuss case status, their employment situation and related matters.
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"This is an amnesty day. This is a freebee. Come on in," said FOC Director Thomas Watson.The FOC has lined up community organizations to help parents find work or get job training and other services. They include Michigan Works!, the Opportunity Center and the STRIVE program.Parents whose income has dropped because of job loss, work hour reduction or other factors can get help about petitioning the court to reduce or otherwise change child support orders.Those who attend the amnesty event will be asked to pay something toward their arrearage and work out a payment plan. For those who work out arrangements, bench warrants will not be enforced for 90 days and progress will be monitored by the FOC staff."It gives them that time frame where they don't have us looking down on them," said Mike Slater, FOC chief enforcement officer. read more

Former NBA star in NW Ohio fighting lien for child support

TOLEDO -- James “Jimmy” Jackson's a beloved Toledo basketball star. He’s a graduate of Macomber High School, an Ohio State stand-out, and his talents took him to several teams in the NBA.

The star may appear to be fading for this former hoops hero. His local business ventures have been struggling in the ailing economy, and now Jackson has become entangled in a child support triangle.
A document from Franklin County says the 38-year-old owes almost $300-thousand dollars to the mother of his child.
”He's the opposite of a dead beat dad,” says his attorney Chris Harbold. “He just wants this cleared up and wants to do what's right."
His Columbus based attorney says Jackson paid the woman directly, writing checks, instead of going through the system. He says this essentially created such the astronomical number. He says he was paid in full up until a few months ago, when Jackson filed a motion to have the payments lowered.
”It's an issue of him asking for a reduction in child support simply because of income differentials because he is no longer a professional athlete,” said Harbold.
A lien has been placed on Jackson's million dollar Holland home. To make matters worse the courts mixed up two other Ohio men, named James Jackson, with Jimmy. read more

Former Basketball star having child support problems

TOLEDO -- James “Jimmy” Jackson's a beloved Toledo basketball star. He’s a graduate of Macomber High School, an Ohio State stand-out, and his talents took him to several teams in the NBA.
The star may appear to be fading for this former hoops hero. His local business ventures have been struggling in the ailing economy, and now Jackson has become entangled in a child support triangle.
A document from Franklin County says the 38-year-old owes almost $300-thousand dollars to the mother of his child.
”He's the opposite of a dead beat dad,” says his attorney Chris Harbold. “He just wants this cleared up and wants to do what's right."
His Columbus based attorney says Jackson paid the woman directly, writing checks, instead of going through the system. He says this essentially created such the astronomical number. He says he was paid in full up until a few months ago, when Jackson filed a motion to have the payments lowered.
”It's an issue of him asking for a reduction in child support simply because of income differentials because he is no longer a professional athlete,” said Harbold.
A lien has been placed on Jackson's million dollar Holland home. To make matters worse the courts mixed up two other Ohio men, named James Jackson, with Jimmy. read more

Diploma Denied to Student Who Blew Kiss to Family, Pointed at Friends

A Maine high school senior was denied his diploma at graduation after he took a bow when his name was called, pointed to friends and blew a kiss to his family.
Justin Denney was graduating from Bonny Eagle High School June 12 and had gotten up on stage to receive his diploma when he gestured to his friends and relatives.
School Superintendent Suzanne Lukas abruptly told Denney to return to his seat, according to WMTW TV in Maine. He didn't get his diploma.
His mother, Mary Denney, is livid. Her son told her that the superintendent warned, "There's no fooling around up here."
"He just kind of looked at her because he wasn't fooling around. He didn't consider that fooling around or misbehaving in any sense of the word," Mary Denney told WMTW.
Lukas reportedly asked the soon-to-be graduate why he thought he deserved a diploma.
"He goes, 'Because I worked hard and I earned it,' and she goes, 'No, go take your seat,'" his mother told the station.
Other students also walked away empty-handed because of various disruptions during the ceremony. Some started playing with beach balls and others were separated from their friends, according to WMTW.
Mary Denney doesn't believe her son violated any code of conduct. read more

Ohio teen who killed mother over video game gets 23 years

ELYRIA, Ohio (AP) — A northeast Ohio teen who shot and killed his mother and wounded his minister father was sentenced Tuesday to 23 years to life in prison for crimes rooted in his obsession with video games with violent themes.
Daniel Petric, 17, who could have gotten life without parole, shook his head slightly, sniffled and held back tears but sat down without saying a word when given the chance by Lorain County Common Pleas Judge James Burge.
Petric's eyes were red from crying when his father, Mark Petric, asked the judge to be lenient and said his son regrets killing his mother and reminds his father often that he is glad his father survived.
As for his mother, Daniel Petric's frequent comment is "Dad, I miss mom. I miss mom," the father said.
"He still does not understand why he did something so terrible," Mark Petric told the judge.
The prosecution disputed the contention that Petric had shown remorse for the crimes and asked for the maximum sentence.
Besides his father, Petric's sister, grandfather and other family members attended the hearing in Elyria, about 20 miles southwest of Cleveland. Some wiped away tears.
Petric was convicted of shooting his parents in October 2007 after they took the game "Halo 3" away from him. The judge, who heard the case without a jury, said at the time of the verdict that the teen was so obsessed over a video game that he may have believed that, like the characters in the game, death wasn't real.
The defense claimed his age and addiction to the game made him less responsible.
In the video game "Halo 3," players shoot alien monsters that have taken over the Earth.
Mark Petric, speaking for the family, said a sentence short of life without parole would give his son a second chance. read more

Queens baby dies after falling into mop bucket at day care center

Police were investigating the death of a Queens baby who perished Monday when he fell headfirst into a mop bucket at his baby-sitter's house.
James Farrior, who would have been 1 year old next month, was declared dead at Jamaica Hospital at 11:25 a.m.
"What can I say, he was my baby? We're trying to cope," said his devastated mom, Chrisann Josiah. "We don't know what happened yet."
It was not immediately clear if James drowned or broke his neck. An autopsy will be performed today.
"I saw the firefighters bring the boy out. He was gasping for air," said neighbor Billy Casares, 41. "It's heartbreaking."
Baby-sitter Kristal Khan, 28, who normally took care of two neighborhood kids along with her small son and daughter in an informal but legal day care arrangement, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, police said.
Police sources said Khan told cops James and her two kids, ages 3 and 4, were in the living room with the bucket when she went to fetch a mop.
When she came back, she found James had fallen headfirst into the blue 7-gallon mop bucket that was three-quarters full of water.
Neighbor Liz Rivero, 31, a mother of three, said she began to pray when she saw a firefighter running Monday morning with the baby, limp and faceup, to an ambulance waiting a block away.
"I started to cry when I saw that. I am a mom," Rivero said.
Khan and a man neighbors said was her brother were taken away for questioning.Read more:

Maine Mom Nabbed in International Child Porn Sting

A mother of four young children in Maine was charged Monday with gross sexual assault after British investigators more than 3,000 miles away used the Internet to allegedly catch her in the act of Webcasting a sexual assault of her young child.
Julie M. Carr, 30, of Mars Hill, Maine, was arrested at about 11 p.m. Friday. Her four children — believed to range from 18 months to 5 years old — were taken into protective custody.
The Child Exploitation Investigation Team of England's West Midlands Police said their unit received information late Thursday that a local man was using the Internet to show inappropriate material of children. An unidentified 18-year-old man was later arrested in Walsall, England.
A day later, on Friday, additional information was obtained by investigators, prompting the West Midland Police to contact officials at the Child Exploitation Online Protection and the U.S. Embassy.
"Our officers worked through the night on Thursday and Friday to ensure the identification and safety of these children across the other side of the world," West Midlands Police Detective Chief Inspector Dave McCrone said in a statement obtained by FOXNews.com. "Many people use the Internet safely and securely; however, there are a small minority who choose to use it to commit criminality."

"We work to make people safer, sooner. The very same technology used to commit the crime enables us to work quickly to protect those who may be vulnerable."
Carr, who is being held on $50,000 bail on charges of gross sexual assault and felony exploitation of a child, was arraigned by videoconference before a judge on Monday. She did not enter a plea, Maine State Police Det. Sgt. John Cote told FOXNews.com.
Cote declined to identify the victim seen during the assault but said one recording was taken as recently as Wednesday.
"That's kind of what facilitated us acting quickly on this information as we received it," he told FOXNews.com.
Cote said it was impossible to immediately determine how many individuals viewed the material allegedly posted by Carr. He declined to discuss statements Carr may have given to investigators, but said "this type of crime" is increasingly common. more

County begins new crack down on delinquent child support payments

CASS COUNTY — It's a problem that's plagued single parents for years, but with the economy sinking, payments are shrinking. Cass County's court system has a new message for parents who refuse to pay child support: pay up or pay the price.


Parents who don't pay their child support got a harsh warning Tuesday in the form of a letter from Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz.
It reads simply: "The Cass County Friend of the Court has submitted a warrant request for criminal prosecution due to your non-compliance in paying child support...I have determined there may be sufficient facts to prosecute you."
It came as a breath of fresh air to one Cass County woman. She's asked WSBT to hide her identity because of a pending court case, but that didn't stop "Jessica" from telling her story, rich with the financial struggles of a single mother over the past five years.
"It has been difficult," she said "My daughter is 8 and my son is 10, and it's hard when you're trying to feed them and pay the bills and that money's not coming in."
That lack of money isn't because she has lost her job, her house or her car.
Instead, she's lost opportunity for her children because the child support payments she depends on for their well-being have been, in her word, "sporadic."
"It usually will come in for a few months here or there, when he's working and I am getting the income. But then we'll take long breaks without it where I don't get any money. It's hard for the kids to understand that they can't do everything they want to because you're not getting that money," she said.
It's not just "treats" that suffer the consequences in the absence of a check.
"They may not get to play the sports. They may not get to go to the movies or do those fun things that kids do. Because you have to pay the bills first, and then you do the extras," she said.

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Cooper, in-laws agree to suspend child support

Attorneys for Brad Cooper and his in-laws went to court Monday to legally suspend his obligation to pay child support.
Cooper is being held in the Wake County jail under a $2 million bond for the death of his wife, Nancy, last July.
Nancy Cooper's parents and sister were awarded permanent custody of the couple's two daughters May 15.
The children are living in Canada with their grandparents and aunt, and Brad Cooper asked the court last month to keep in place the temporary order until after his criminal trial, saying it would be in the best interest of the children.
Deborah Sandlin, who represents Brad Cooper, said her client felt like it was the right thing to do at the time for "the consistency of the girls' care."

Child support evader makes top ten list for Beaumont child

Dean Greer is wanted by the Texas Attorney General's Office for back due child support for his daughter in Beaumont.
Greer, whose last known address is in Nacogdoches, owes more than $39,000 for seven years of unpaid child support, according to the Attorney General's Office.
In 1990, Greer was ordered to make monthly child support payments of $120 and he did not follow that order.
Missed payments and accrued interest makes the total owed by Greer about $39,962, according to the Attorney General's Office.
Last month Greer was named to the top ten most wanted child support evaders list.

29-year-old father of 21 ordered to pay child support with minimum-wage salary

The Volunteer State has a baby-making monster on its hands.
Desmond Hatchett, a minimum-wage earner from Knoxville, Tenn., has heard “Desmond you are the father” 21 times.

‘Desmond Hatchett Plus Baby Mamas Plus 21”
He appeared in a juvenile court last week for 11 cases involving 15 of his children. Eleven seems to be his lucky number.
Hatchett’s children range in age from 11 years old to 11 months old.
Keith Pope, Hatchett’s attorney, said there is no way Hatchett can support that many children.
“The state of Tennessee has had to step in,” he told KCAL 9.
Some of the Hatchett’s baby mamas only receive $1.98 a month in child support.
For his part, the Hatchett said all of his baby mamas knew what they were getting into.
He said he didn’t intend to have 21 children and has had his fill of reproducing.
“It just happened,” he told KCAL 9.

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Eddie Murphy has to pay Spice girl $51,000 a month

Comedian ends legal dispute with former Spice Girl Melanie Brown

Eddie Murphy has been ordered by a judge to pay $51,000 a month in child support for his 22-month-old child Angel Iris until she turns 18…totaling in $10 million. According to The Daily Telegraph, Murphy has also agreed to start seeing the child he has with former Spice Girl, Melanie Brown. Murphy first questioned whether the child was his until paternity tests proved he was the father. “I don't know whose child that is,” Murphy said on Dutch TV show RTL Boulevard in 2006, “until it comes out and has a blood test.” Both Brown and Murphy were embroiled in a 15-month long legal dispute. “Mel is delighted that the case is over,” a friend of Brown said. “She just wanted what was right for the girl.” To see more child support stories click here

13-year-old has had 75 run-ins with police in Metro Vancouver

METRO VANCOUVER — A 13-year-old boy who slashed a man with a knife because he wouldn’t give him a cigarette has been in court and involved with police 75 times in the past year.
The youth, who has been in and out of foster care, was on probation when the latest attack occurred aboard SkyTrain near Columbia Station, according to the Transit Police Service.
He was charged Tuesday with assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon in connection with the attack, which left a 23-year-old Ontario man with severe cuts to his left hand. The man was heading home after watching a Canucks game at a Vancouver restaurant when he refused to give the boy a cigarette and was slashed.
People on the train who witnessed the attack pushed the emergency intercom and requested immediate assistance. As the train came into Columbia Station, people from the train pointed out the youth to a SkyTrain attendant, who got the boy off the train and then called for police. Another SkyTrain attendant began first aid on the victim and then took him to hospital.
Transit police spokesman Tom Seaman said the youth needs help.
“What’s happened in his life to have him blow up so easily and so quickly in anger?” he asked.
The youth, who was being held at the Burnaby Youth Detention Centre, cannot be named because he’s a young offender.
But police say he’s no stranger to them.
At the time of his arrest, the youth was breaching curfew and other probation restrictions, including possessing and owning a weapon, police said. He was convicted on six charges in 2008 and was scheduled to to court on four outstanding issues in Surrey.
Most of the incidents involved violent offences with weapons such as knives, or were alcohol-related, transit police said.
“This young man has been in foster care for a good period of his life,” said Police Chief Ward Clapham.
“It just breaks my heart. On the one hand this is not acceptable, this type of behaviour is a very serious crime. On the other, wow, here’s a 13-year-old, look at his record and the level of violence ... and he continues to slip through the cracks.”
Clapham said the incident underscored the need for the community to pull together. He said he was calling on the 21 municipalities in Metro Vancouver to help people like this boy — either through treatment or jail — before the situation gets any worse.
“This is real, it’s happening more and more often,” Clapham said. “We as police can only do so much. ... No blame, let’s get our heads together and deal with it.”
Ministry of Children and Family Development spokesman Kelly Gleeson would not give details of the youth’s past, or even confirm that he was in foster care, due to privacy concerns.
“That being said, any youth — in care or not — that has repeated dealings with the youth justice system is obviously of concern,” Gleeson said in an e-mail. more

Brooks County teen arrested for burning 3 cats

Authorities charged a Brooks County teen with aggravated cruelty to animals following the burning death of two cats and the disfiguration of a third.
Brooks County Sheriff Mike Dewey announced on Monday that 17-year-old Cory Ward has been charged with three counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.
Ward is accused in the death of two cats and the disfiguration of a third cat in the area of Eagle Run Trailer Park.
On December 20, 2008, area resident Jim Ragan found two cats that were severely burned.
Both cats were taken to Baytree Animal Hospital.
On December 22, 2008, Mr. Ragan found a third cat that had also been burned and had two broken legs.
Two of the cats were taken to the University of Florida Veterinary Hospital where they later died.
The third cat continues to improve at home with surgery scheduled in the next few weeks.
"After extensive investigation and follow-up on leads provided to us by concerned citizens we were able to solve this case," said Sheriff Mike Dewey. "We appreciate the many individuals who came forward with information and offers to help with the medical costs and the reward money."
Sheriff Dewey quickly condemned cruelty against animals.
"Individuals who commit such heinous acts as the burning of these innocent animals, if not caught and held accountable for these acts may go on to commit more serious crimes in the future," he said.
Aggravated animal cruelty is a felony and carries a penalty of one to five years in prisonand a maximum fine of $15,000 plus restitution.
Currently, medical costs for the treatment of the three cats have totalled almost $16,000.