By Janice Morse
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - A Butler County man who avoided making child-support payments when he moved to Ukraine, in eastern Europe, was arrested last week when he returned to the Cincinnati area for some work-related training, authorities said.

According to an indictment released Wednesday, Jeff Ashby, 38, was arrested July 18 at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport as he tried to board an airplane and return to Ukraine.

"Instead of getting on a plane to Paris, he got an all-expenses-paid trip to the Butler County Jail," said Dan Cade, executive director of the county's Child Support Enforcement Agency.

Ashby, who was moved from the Boone County Jail to the Butler jail, is to appear today before Common Pleas Judge Keith Spaeth on three felony charges of failing to pay child support.

He faces up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500 on each charge.

The indictment said Ashby has failed to pay child support for his two children since July 2001. He owes his children about $11,000, said Dusty Dunaway, spokeswoman for the county agency.

Authorities questioned Ashby's employer, who said Ashby would be working in the United States during July.

E-mail jmorse@enquirer.com