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OH Criminal Judge Seeks to Apply Forfeited Assets to Back Child Support

By Janet Langjahr

Father owes $7,500 in back child support. Bad enough.

Then he is arrested on a drug charge - again. With more than $15,000 in cash and jewelry on his person. And half that amount in illegal drugs.

Criminal court Judge is not happy with Father.

State seizes Father’s cash and jewelry.

Judge proposes that cash and proceeds of jewelry go to child support arrearages.

Except the state statute specifies what seized assets may be used for… Child support isn’t included.

But the prosecutors are researching whether the judge’s proposal can be implemented legally anyway.

Meanwhile, Judge sentences Father to two years under a plea deal, suspends his driver’s license for a year and orders him to pay a fine and court costs.

Sounds like the Judge is on to something, and the forfeiture statute should be amended to allow seized assets to be applied to support obligations.

Read more in this Cincinnati [OH] Enquirer article: A novel use for drug money.

Full post as published by Florida Divorce - Child Custody - Domestic Abuse Law on January 21, 2009 (boomark / email).