Strollerderby : deadbeat dad

Judge to Deadbeats: Watch 'Maury' or Go to Jail

Madeline Holler — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:02:00 GMT

Will forcing deadbeat dads to watch other deadbeat dads on TV change the way they treat their children? One Detroit judge seems to think so.

After an epiphany in the courtroom a few months ago -- where he shouted to a man with five kids from five women: "What the hell do you think this is, the Maury Povich show?" -- Judge Wade McCree began ordering dads to watch the raucus show as a part of their probation.

For those who agree to make child support payments to stay out of jail, they now need to tune in at least once a month to the show, which features lots of wacky relationships, DNA testing and tears.

From Freep.com:

"Some of these men in my court watch the show and see how ridiculous some of the deadbeats look, and then they realize it's them," McCree said.

Of course, Povich told the Detroit Free Press that he likes the judges creative solutions. Whatever boosts ratings, right Maury?

Crocheted Doll Gives Birth

Should You Take Your Bump on a Date?

Mother-to-Be: Save The Baby's Life, Not Mine

They Say: Episiotomy Rate ... Cut!

A Really Graphic Homebirth

The Orphan Trade and International Adoption

Photo: Freep.com

Florida Mulls "Deadbeat Dad" T-Shirts

JeanneSager — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:37:00 GMT

Just in case they're not shamed enough to be out doing community service, a Florida legislator thinks deadbeat parents should have to do it wearing clothes that tell the world they don't support their kids.

The bill introduced by Democratic State Sen. Mike Fasano would require deadbeat parents to spend a week on a work detail, sporting a shirt or pair of overalls that shares their crime with the whole world.

Although its still only in the "bill" phase (it's only just now being introduced in the state Senate), the goal is to have the punishment kick in after a deadbeat father's third appearance in court for his failure to pay. A Florida newspaper reporting on the story was unable to obtain comment from Fasano on how the law would affect deadbeat mothers.

Parents who don't support their kids are easy pickins', but I'm not sure shame is going to work with these people. They can look their kids in the eye in a courtroom and still ignore the court order; they're not exactly the emotional type.

There's also the question of what this does to the kids. It's bad enough knowing mom or dad doesn't bother sending money to pay for your food and clothing, but kids with a deadbeat parent generally don't like to have that news spread around. In smaller towns, all it takes is one kid from school seeing your Dad out picking litter with an orange t-shirt for the news to be spread all around school.

It's a good idea in theory - nail these crappy parents to the wall. But in reality, I don't see it doing much.

Image: myspace

Should Out-of-Work Parents Get Off Child Support Hook?

Having a Kid Alone? Don't Tell Me Why I Have it Better

Dad Finds Daughter Abducted During Bosnian War

Man Forced to Pay Child Support for Another Man's Child

JeanneSager — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 14:37:00 GMT

All Walter Andre Sharpe Jr. did was sign for a certified letter. Considering the addressee was Andre Sharpe - not far off - could you blame him?

A judge in Pennsylvania did. He made Walter Andre Sharpe Jr. liable for child support for a little girl who's real father was Andre Sharpe. When Walter Sharpe couldn't keep up with the payments to support a child that wasn't even his? The state threw him in jail.

Walter Andre Sharp Jr. ignored the letter once he realized it wasn't really meant for him. The father of four from a previous marriage already paid child support to his ex-wife. But when neither he nor the real Andre Sharp showed up at a child support hearing to answer the letter, a judge put the onus on Walter Sharpe. He authorized Walter's wages be garnished - to pay not only new charges but more than $5,000 in back support. That was 2001.

Walter Sharpe applied several times for a paternity test to prove he wasn't the girl's father, but he was denied each time. Between 2001 and 2005, Walter Sharpe landed in jail for four separate six-month terms for falling behind on payments to support the little girl. He finally lost his job in 2005, but it would take another two years before the paternity order would be overturned. But as recently as two months ago, the state has still been denying him compensation for the $12,000 subtracted from his pay and sent the way of the real Andre Sharpe's baby mama's mother, the little girl's grandmother. Ironically, the real Sharpe says he's always supported his daughter. In fact, she's lived with him for the past four years.

The district attorney is finally investigating, but the president of the county where this happened is still putting at least a portion of the blame on Walter Sharpe, essentially for not being more proactive.

Since when should a man have to be more proactive in expecting NOT to pay child support for someone else's child? I admit there are plenty of deadbeat parents out there - and they deserve to be hunted down and made to support the child they helped create. HOWEVER, when a guy asks for a paternity test, a paternity test is in order. Who could really lose here? If the result is positive, the judge has even more support behind him or her in making a decision. If it's negative, well, you save a guy $12,000 and four years of his life spent in prison for a crime that he really couldn't have committed. Because how could you fail to pay child support you never owed in the first place?

Image: About

Dad Wants Daughter Back Despite Negative DNA Test

Male Blogger: Laboring Mom Not a 'True Emergency'

New Dad Forgives Guy Who Stole Camera With Birth Footage

Sperm Donor's Teen Daughter Finds Him on Myspace

Mom Sells Newborn Twins to Fund Liposuction

Hey Obama, Give This Kid an Interview!

Most Wanted Puts Deadbeat Dads . . . and One Mom Online

JeanneSager — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:02:00 GMT

If you're planning a divorce, you might want to move to the South. First it was Tennessee yanking fishing and hunting licenses from deadbeat parents. Now Virginia is placing parents who evade their child support responsibilities atop its Most Wanted criminals list.

They don't play in Dixie.

Pictures of eight deadbeat dads and one deadbeat mother are now posted online at the Virginia Department of Social Services website, along with their dates of birth, number of children, height, weight, occupation and last known address. It's like the list in the back of the newspaper for people who don't pay their property taxes . . . with pictures to double the laughs.

The crappiest dad of the year award goes to Joseph Hollenbach, a quality assurance inspector from Pennsylvania who owes more than $177,000 to his baby mama. The, "Look They Photoshopped My Giant Head Onto a Puny Body and All I Got Was a Spot on the Most Wanted List" award goes to Jad Salah Amra, who we can add to the list of shyster car salesmen with his refusal to pay more than $97,000 to support his three kids.

Want to see the whole list? Be sure to check out Bobby Joe Cannon Jr.'s grinning high school yearbook photo. Hey Class of 1990, look at him now!

Image: Revengemark

Don't Pay Child Support? Bid the Gun Rack Bye Bye

Dad To Step-Daughter: Clean Your Room or I'll Lock Us All In Here

Five-Year-Old Catches STD From Dad's Towel?

They Say: Dads Cheat, but Not for Sex

Don't Pay Child Support? Bid the Gun Rack Bye Bye

JeanneSager — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:57:00 GMT

If you teach a man to fish, he may eat for a lifetime - but that doesn't mean his kids will. Which is why the State of Tennessee is looking to revoke 1,200-some fishing and hunting licenses from deadbeat moms and dads.

In the last few days, letters were sent out to more than 20,0000 residents across the state with a warning - pay in full within 90 days or hand over their recreational, driver's or professional license. This isn't the first year state officials have taken advantage of the fact that the state issues licenses for everything from driving to casting a line. State and federal law both allow for social services to revoke any state-issued license as a means to punish parents who aren't living up to their court-ordered obligation to help support their children. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work. Approximately 7,000 licenses were yanked last year because the parents failed to heed the warning.

This time around, almost 18,000 residents stand to lose their driver's licenses, another 1,200 their right to hunt and fish. If they aren't willing to feed and clothe their own kids, I find it hard feel bad for someone who's been told they can't take off on a boat for a few days or go out to camp with the boys. Although there are people who hunt and fish to feed their families, I live in a rural area where I've watched the same people who tell me they need to hunt to eat plunk down a couple hundred on a brand new rifle or fancy fly-fishing reel. Besides, these men and women AREN'T feeding their families, that's the reason they got themselves into this mess in the first place. The state may even be doing them the favor of helping them save a little money this year. That's a couple hundred that could buy a nice hunk of cow from the grocery store and a pile of produce at the farmers' market.

I am a little wary of the plan to revoke 400 professional licenses, the state-issued permission for people to work in fields including healthcare and real estate. If you're trying to get someone to pay their child support, does it make sense to essentially put them out of business?

Image: Timatteo

Source: Crossville Chronicle

Government Seizes Newborn from Mentally Disabled Mom 22 Hours After Birth

Supreme Court to Father: No, You Can't Circumcise a 13-year-old

Mob Mol Who Smuggled Sperm Says Prison System Hates Her Child for Being Born

Texas Judge Orders Woman to Stop Bearing Children