Failing to pay your financial obligations in Florida can have serious consequences – especially if you are considered delinquent in your court-related payments. One man found this out first-hand as he was fleeing child support enforcement. After he ran from officers who were attempting to serve a warrant related to his child support, he is facing additional charges of resisting arrest and battery on a police officer.
The man, who was taken into custody on March 10 in connection with the incident, fled from officers and hid in a hole beneath the floor of a barn. The officers reportedly had to call out K-9 units to locate the defendant after he fled on foot. He was booked into the local correctional facility on charges of failing to pay child support, along with the arrest-related violations.
Many Florida residents do not realize that they can be subject to jail time for delinquent payments on their child support account. Unlike spousal support and other property-division claims, child support is held to stricter rules, and failure to pay leads to more severe penalties. In general, the courts are able to work with those who have lost their primary means of income, though child support can still lead to wage garnishments and required monthly payments.
If you are having difficulty making your child support payments, you do not have to resolve yourself to being incarcerated or charged with a crime. Instead, you can work with a family attorney to obtain a modification or seek assistance through the courts. Do not resign yourself to these hefty penalties – or flee, causing additional problems. Instead, consider seeking help with a qualified legal professional.
Source: Washington County News, “Man racks up felonies fleeing child support arrest,” March 13, 2017
