Robert Sand
Prosecutors called 50-year-old Robert Sand the worst deadbeat parent in the country when he went on the run for more than a decade, heading from New York to Florida, and then to Thailand, to avoid paying child support. Since 2002, according to Fox News, he owes payments totaling $1.2 million to three children from two marriages. Finally, earlier this year, he was tired of fleeing from authorities and gave himself up in the Philippines when he didn’t have proper ID, and was sent back to the U.S. to face prison time.
Christopher Robinson
A 23-year-old Wisconsin dad, Christopher Robinson never paid a cent of child support for his 3-year-old and decided to post photos to Facebook of himself with wads of cash. Since he hasn’t contributed the monthly $150 toward this toddler’s expenses, those pictures will likely cost him: Robinson now faces three felony charges as a result of his social media use. “[Facebook] is an investigative tool,” Milwaukee County chief deputy district attorney Kent Lovern said, according to the New York Daily News. “It can be effective in assisting in the investigation and prosecution of certain criminal targets.”
Photo via N.Y. Daily News
Jermaine Jackson
Jermaine Jackson failed to cough up $90,000 in child support back in 2011 before settling with his ex wife for a smaller sum, and now 2013 is proving a similar story. The singer’s ex wife, Alejandra Jackson, says he owes more than $30,000 for the period between April 2012 and April 2013. L.A.'s Child Support Services Department has filed papers, asking a judge to hold Jackson in contempt if he doesn’t ante up for teenage sons Jermajesty and Jaafar by his August court date, according to TMZ.
Kenneth Jones
When the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released its list of worst deadbeat parents, a Tacoma, Wash., native was tops in that category. Dating back to 1998, Kenneth Jones, 52, has failed to pay $259,000 in child support for his two children. He’s fled the state and likely the country. According to KomoNews.com, federal investigators believe he lives near Sydney, Australia now. Police hoped to finally make an arrest at Jones’s mother’s funeral. However, he failed to attend.
Photo via KomoNews.com
Wayne Winston
Connecticut State Marshall Charles Valentino had been looking for Wayne Winston for more than a year when he finally caught wind that the deadbeat dad was attempting to lead a local chapter of the NAACP. Valentino found him in late April when he crossed paths with Winston, who owes more than $15,000 in child support payments. A judge showed no sympathy when the father of two tried to explain that he couldn’t meet the minimum set by the court, according to the CTpost.com. He will have to remain in prison until he makes $2,000 in payment for one child, plus $340 in bond.
Levi Johnston
Bristol Palin was still hoping last May that Levi Johnston would pay the $38,000 he owed in child support, according to TMZ, despite the fact that he hadn’t forked over any money in 22 months. Johnston made a splash in the wake of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s unsuccessful vice presidential run, posing for Playgirl for nearly $1 million, according to US Weekly. However, instead of paying his child support, a source claimed, “He squandered it on guns, boats and four-wheelers.” Bristol Palin’s ex reportedly has little contact with son Tripp.
Dennis Rodman
In 2009 and 2010, a court found former NBA star Dennis Rodman in contempt for skipping out on child support payments, and insisted he contribute 104 hours of community service. At the end of last year, he was found in contempt of court yet again for the same reason: failing to pay child support for his tween son and daughter. His ex wife, Michelle, claimed Rodman owed $850,000. However, they eventually settled on $500,000. His attorney was planning to try and overturn the order, according to the Huffington Post. As of now, if he doesn’t make the six-figure payment, he could face prison time.
Jon Gosselin
Former Jon and Kate Plus 8 dad Jon Gosselin ranted to Radar Online last year that his child-support payments were putting him in jeopardy of losing everything: “I can’t afford to pay my rent, and the domestic-relations staff tells me they will put me in jail unless I pay child support,” he said, according to Radar. “I am a single father who’s trying to make ends meet during a recession. What do I do—pay child support or rent? I need to support my kids, but I could lose my house, and I need my home to continue to have custody.” Oddly enough, months before the rant, Kate Gosselin had voluntarily waived his child support, making her the sole breadwinner of the couple’s eight kids.
Steven Jones
A Chicago dad, more than $75,000 behind on his child support payments, got in even more hot water when police tapped on his door. He dropped to the floor, trying to crawl toward the basement unnoticed. Steven Jones didn't avoid arrest, though, as the officers forced entry into his home when he refused to respond. The deadbeat dad racked up a $2,000 C-bond for failure to pay child support—and a $30,000 I-bond for resisting arrest, according to CBS Chicago.
Operation Deadbeat Dad
Chicago-area police arrested nearly 20 fathers owing a total of more than $1.7 million in child support payments over the course of a two-week sting beginning June 1, 2011. The dad hunt, which authorities called “Operation Deadbeat Dad,” intentionally fell near Father’s Day. "It's particularly troubling to think that even on Father's Day—a day intended to honor one of the two most important people in a child's life—there are men continuously shirking their duties and failing to provide basic financial assistance for their children," Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said, according to Chicago Breaking News. "Our office is sending a message to all deadbeat parents: Support your kids, or we're coming after you."
