Man jailed for not supporting kid who isn't his

AP ^ | Sat., Dec. 6, 2008 | Associated Press

[aclusux.com]

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A Philadelphia man was forced to pay more than $12,000 in child support for another man's daughter

[aclusux.com]

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A Philadelphia man was forced to pay more than $12,000 in child support for another man's daughter and spent two years in jail for falling behind on payments.

[aclusux.com]

Isn’t that socialism?

[nobama08]

How so?

[aclusux.com]

How’s your wife and my FED?

[BenLurkin]

Unbelievable.

[Emmett McCarthy]

My situation is that my daughter refuses to live with her mother any longer (She’s 15) and the mother was asking that I continue to pay her child support. I have been more than impressed by the way that Child Support Enforcement has handled that. I have been treated very fairly and they have even filed on my behalf with the court to formally discontinue child support to the mother and have it go the other way instead. I received that notice in the mail today. No, the ex ain’t gonna be happy about that one.

[Pontiac]

Sharpe's troubles began in 2001, when he signed for a certified letter addressed to Andre Sharpe, the girl's father. The letter ordered Andre Sharpe to attend a child support conference in Dauphin County, where the girl's mother lived at the time.

Lesson to learn here: first never accept a certified letter not addressed to you. Second never ignore a court summons.

[Sparky1776]

I remember Howie Carr (WRKO) talking about similiar cases here in Massachusetts a few years back. In one case a gentleman was paying child support for some time, decided to have his & the child’s DNA analyzed & found out he wasn’t the father. The court ruled that since he started making payments he was obligated to continue, and I think even after the real father was ID.

[TheWasteLand]

Hey, the future Secretary of State says it takes a village.

[justlurking]

Lesson to learn here: first never accept a certified letter not addressed to you.

The article is kinda hard to follow. But, it appears that Andre Sharpe is the real father. Walter Andre Sharpe is the one that was mistakenly identified as the father.

The story doesn't even mention the relationship (or lack thereof) between the two Sharpe's. There must be more to it than simple mistaken identity.

[CindyDawg]

IMO the one that gets hurt regarding child support are the kids. After living thru a “child support” nightmare as a child, I decided that if my husband and I didn't make it, I would never take court child support, even if I had to work two jobs. My husband could fulfill his moral obligation how ever he chose. No demands.

[decimon]

More here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2144164/posts?page=36

Different title, same article.

[LostInBayport]

I remember Howie Carr (WRKO) talking about similiar cases here in Massachusetts a few years back. In one case a gentleman was paying child support for some time, decided to have his & the child’s DNA analyzed & found out he wasn’t the father. The court ruled that since he started making payments he was obligated to continue, and I think even after the real father was ID.

Here in Massachusetts, I believe a man has one year from the date when his name is put on the birth certificate to contest paternity. From that point on, he is financially responsible even after a DNA test proves someone else is the child's father. So if the Mrs. cheats and the husband has no idea of it until after that time, he gets stuck paying for the product of her adultery all the way through college, and the biological father gets off (pun intended) scot free.

Correct me if I'm wrong about that. But in this looney state, he probably even ends up paying alimony after he sues her for divorce. But what else would you expect from the state that introduced "gay marriage"? Rationality?

[Brilliant]

It’s just another miscarriage of justice. Get used to it.

[Balding_Eagle]

Glad to hear that. Congrats to you are in order I think.

[Emmett McCarthy]

Thanks. I hope it all works out that way. CSEA not only pretty much refused to help her extort me, but when I told them that I had no money for a lawyer - that it was all I could do to keep things afloat at this point - they filed. I don’t know whether the mother is going to understand that she is the named “respondent” and that the filing was made by a state-paid attorney. The mother started all this by going to CSEA in the first place - after my daughter had left her house in August. I had paid her directly for 14 years and even for some times she had lived with me before that. I wasn’t asking for her to pay me child support - just to leave me alone. It may turn out like the terrorist who blows themselves up making the bomb

[Chode]

in 92 a guy walked in and shot the child welfare department to death then committed suicide after telling them they ruined his life now he'd ruin theirs for bankrupting him in a support case for a kid known not to be his.

[aliquando]

I thank G_d every day for my wife and kids. I would be a pathetic mess if I had to deal with a divorce and all the crap that goes with it. Both my wife and I agree that neither one of us wants to deal with the kids by ourselves! :)
We met in church if that helps any of you singles out there!

[pray4liberty]

My situation is that my daughter refuses to live with her mother any longer (She’s 15) and the mother was asking that I continue to pay her child support. I have been more than impressed by the way that Child Support Enforcement has handled that.

Whoever's running Child Support Enforcement should run for President in 2012. /sarc

They are correct. If you are now supporting your daughter, and she is living with you, you should not have to pay child support to your ex-wife--it's not alimony.

[Sparky1776]

That sound about right, well it’s for the children!