Often enough, a sudden job loss or economic downturn can make it hard for people to pay their child support. When the reason someone is failing to pay child support is a substantial change in circumstances, he or she should seek a child support modification as soon as possible so the problem doesn’t continue to build.
Unfortunately, not everyone failing to pay child support is doing to because they can’t afford it. For example, former All Star right fielder Danny Tartabull was just outed as Los Angeles County’s top non-payer on the “Most Wanted List” of its Child Support Services Department. He reportedly owes $276,204.93 in unpaid child support for his two sons.
Tartabull, 50, played 14 Major League Baseball seasons with the Seattle Mariners, the Kansas City Royals, the New York Yankees, the Oakland Athletics, the Chicago White Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies. He has been a dedicated nonpayer of child support for some time, it seems. In 2011, he was apparently held in contempt of court for nonpayment despite having made a reported $33 million over his 14-season career. He has also appeared on episodes of “Seinfeld,” so there is no evidence he is unable to pay.
He pled no contest to the 2011 nonpayment charge and was put on probation. He failed to comply with that probation and was sentenced to 180 days in jail. Unfortunately, according to authorities, he failed to appear for that sentence and has been on the lam ever since. A warrant, with bail set at $200,000, has been issued for his arrest.
Tartabull has not explained his refusal to pay the child support. If he disputes his paternity or questions the amount he has been ordered to pay, the most effective way to address those concerns would have been to bring them up in family court. With a $200,000 bail, he can expect bounty hunters to bring him in for a date with a criminal court, instead.
Source: 4 NBC, “Ex-Major League Baseball Player Tops Child Support “Most Wanted” List,” Dan Stamm, Friday, Jul 12, 2013
