A prominent Detroit developer and businessman has been charged with a felony for his failure to pay nearly $100,000 in back child support.
The man, 66, has accumulated a child-support debt of $99,535.91 over the past eight years, according to the state. The amount due covers one child.
The Child, Elder & Family Financial Crimes division, part of the office of Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, filed the felony charge.
The man was arraigned on Oct. 9 in 36th District Court, and his bond was set at $25,000. He was jailed at William Dickerson Detention Facility in Hamtramck, Michigan, according to records in Wayne County. Local media was unable to reach him for comment.
“Parents who are financially able to support their children but chose not to do so must be held accountable for their actions, and when the amount approaches six-figures, a felony charge is more than appropriate,” the attorney general said in a prepared statement.
The man’s holdings reportedly include an interest in the former Southwest Detroit Hospital building. He is said to have other real estate assets in Detroit as well.
According to the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, Michigan parents were about $6.34 billion in arrears on their child support as of September 2015, which was the most recent figure available. Of that amount, about $344 million was paid toward the child support debt, and the average debt owed was $13,586.
In every family in Michigan, two parents are responsible for providing for their children. Custodial parents who haven’t received support – or non-custodial parents who are having trouble paying their child support – can turn to a Michigan attorney who works with family law cases for assistance and guidance.