BY B.G. GREGG
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters is giving parents delinquent on child support payments until Oct. 1 to pay up or face a possible prison sentence.
Mr. Deters said he was preparing indictments for the county's 50 worst delinquent parents.
"These are people who literally thumbed their nose at the system and said, "I am not going to pay for my kids,' " he said.
Mr. Deters said agrand jury has been studying a list of more than 50 names and will be asked for the indictments shortly before Oct. 1. On that date, warrants will be issued for the arrest of parents who have not paid.
A parent who has not made child support payments for at least 26 weeks in the past two years can be charged with a felony. Penalties range from six months to 1 1/2 years in prison, and may include fines. Mr. Deters, who is running for state treasurer, has announced similar mass indictments several times in the past five years. So far, 565 people who owed slightly more than $10 million have been indicted.
Mr. Deters said 21 of those indicted paid their support in full, totaling about $300,000. Sixty percent of the rest were sent to prison, he said.
