Delinquent Child Support Amnesty Week, Crackdown Yields $19K, 92 Resolved Cases

Written by Brittany Tressler

Montgomery County Sheriff Eileen Behr reported Wednesday that the Delinquent Child Support Amnesty Program, and subsequent crackdown on parents with domestic relations-related warrants, was a success earlier this month, during which 25 percent of the more than 300 delinquent child support cases were resolved.

“There are 108 children in this county who will now be able to get some kind of support as a result of this program,” said Behr.

From June 10 to June 14, individuals with warrants out for arrest due to unpaid child support were invited to turn themselves in to the Montgomery County Domestic Relations Office to work out an arrangement to support their children, with no risk of arrest.

Forty-five defendants took advantage of the amnesty period by making initial payments and plans for continued support to a total of 70 children across the county.

Two of the domestic relations office’s "Most Wanted" for delinquent child support, Daniel Darden and Eric Homa, were among those who turned themselves in.

Behr and Domestic Relations Office Enforcement Unit Assistant Director Rebecca Colantuno were pleased with the results of the amnesty program.

“These results were three times higher than the amnesty program in 2009,” Colantuno said.

As promised, Behr hit the streets the Monday after the amnesty ended to serve warrants on the defendants who did not turn themselves in.

On June 17 at 2 a.m., Behr sent out 22 sheriff's deputies out to bring in defendants with outstanding bench warrants; within five hours, 28 defendants had been rounded up.

During the week of the roundup, 58 warrants were satisfied and $19,119 was collected from defendants, which helped to support 39 children.

Defendant Jason Zeigler had a “purge amount” – a set sum he had to pay to get out of jail – in the amount of $7,000, and he paid the day he was arrested, according to Montgomery County Deputy Sheriff Joanne Plasterer.

According to Behr, some defendants picked up in Montgomery County also had open cases in other nearby counties.

Behr thanked the community for sending in tips regarding defendants during the process, and the media for helping to disseminate the information regarding the amnesty week.

“As a result of the media cooperation we received dozens of tips by phone and email,” Behr said, who added that promoting the information on the amnesty period allowed defendants to feel more comfortable about turning themselves in.

Behr also thanked Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Rhonda Danielle, who cleared a week of her schedule to hear the cases.

While officials believe the program was successful, Behr said that Montgomery County will continue to work to close more of these cases.

“This doesn’t mean this is the end of the process,” said Behr.  “We will continue weekly to serve warrants. We’re still going to be out there, we’re still coming for you”

To see the list of remaining domestic relations bench warrants and to submit a tip, click here.