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No Intent to Remain Needed to Establish Venue for Child Support Prosecution

By Jonathan Byrne

US v. Novak: Novak was the father of two children, one living in California from a previous marriage and one in New York with his (then current) wife. Between 1993 and 2008, he failed to pay more than $120,000 in child support for the California child (plus interest). In August 2004, after his wife had filed for divorce, Novak moved to Virginia to fulfill a consultancy contract that would terminate at the end of 2004. He remained in Virginia, however, until August, 2007, when he was arrested and charged in the EDVA with willfully failing to pay child support under 18 USC 228(a)(3). At trial, venue was a key issue, whether Novak "resided" in EDVA. Novak argued that he lived in New York and only worked in Virginia - he returned to New York weekly to visit his daughter, continued to pay for the marital home, and kept most of his possessions there...continue to full post

Full post as published by Fourth Circuit Blog on June 21, 2010 (boomark / email).