Any parent who fails to pay court-ordered child support could find themselves running afoul of the legal system. Plano residents might be interested in the recent story about a popular music producer and reality television star who recently found out just what kind of consequences can be levied when someone defies a court order.
Steven Jordan, better known as Stevie J, was ordered by a court to pay child support for his two children in the amount of roughly $6,600 a month starting back in 1999. In 2011, the courts modified the order and raised his child support obligation to slightly more than $8,500 per month.
Jordan was recently arrested at his home and charged with failure to pay child support. A U.S. attorney has accused Jordan of being in arrears in an amount that exceeds $1 million.
However, Jordan’s attorney calls the case “preposterous” and claims that Jordan does not owe the alleged $1.1 million. The attorney said that it is possible that Jordan owes some child support, but nothing close to the $1 million mark.
The federal prosecutor disagrees, alleging that Jordan has been in arrears on support payments since 2001 despite earning a significant income since then. A news release from the U.S. attorney’s office states that Jordan earned more than $100,000 in music royalties between 2003 and 2013 and an additional $190,000 in 2013 alone. Jordan faces up to two years in jail if convicted.
When a parent cannot meet his or her child support obligations, simply not paying or lying about income is a sure way to get into trouble with the law. Family courts have the power to make modifications to child support orders to ensure that the children are taken care of without wiping out either parent financially.
Source: AccessAtalanta.com, “Stevie J’s attorney calls $1 million child support allegations ‘preposterous’,” Rodney Ho, June 11, 2014
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “‘Love & Hip Hop’ star owes $1M in child support,” Michelle E. Shaw, June 10, 2014