DHSS Press Release |
Date: September 18, 2006 DHSS-81-2006 |
| Vincent P. Meconi, Secretary Jay Lynch, Communications Director (302) 255-9037, Pager (302) 247-8523 Email: jay.lynch@state.de.us |
1st CHILD SUPPORT EVADER FEATURED ON POSTER ARRESTED
Tips to DE Crime Stopper Keep Coming In!
New Castle – Wilmington Police today arrested Most Wanted Child Support Evader Devin L. Wright, Sr. who owes over $20,000 in child support. Levin’s case is the 1st to be resolved since the Division of Child Support Enforcement Director Chuck Hayward unveiled the Division’s Most Wanted Child Support Evader Posters initiative on September 13, 2006.
"I want to thank the public and members of the law enforcement community for helping us locate this most wanted Child Support Evader. We will continue working with the public and law enforcement officials to send a message to these parents that we are committed to finding them and to making them live up to their responsibilities, or suffer the consequences," Director Hayward said.
Mr. Wright was arrested today on the 13 Hundred Block and East 29th Street in Wilmington, after information received from tips called into Delaware Crime Stoppers was delivered to Wilmington Police.
As part of Child Support Enforcement Month, on Wednesday, September 13, the Division of Child Support Enforcement launched its new plan to increase enforcement of child support laws through a new partnership with Crime Stoppers, local and state law enforcement agencies and the citizens of Delaware.
"The Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE) is proud of the work we do helping the children of Delaware. Last year, DCSE collected more than $97 million (a record collection for Delaware) for the children of Delaware. Still, unpaid child support is a significant problem," said Chuck Hayward, Director of the Division of Child Support Enforcement. "The parents we are targeting through this new effort are thumbing their nose at the law by refusing to pay their child support debt. They have been given every opportunity to pay what is owed and we need the public's help to find them."
Also planned are child support round-ups where law enforcement personnel devote efforts to locating and arresting non-custodial parents who are delinquent in their child support payments. Persons can be arrested if they have outstanding capiases for failure to appear in court after being contacted about their delinquent payments.
"Children suffer the consequences of a parent's refusal to pay child support,” said Hayward. “Many children go without the basic necessities that child support provides, and they carry the emotional scars that come from knowing their parents do not care enough to pay child support."
Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.
