Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton today announced that nine people were arrested for violating their court order to pay child support in a Hays County roundup. Yesterday morning’s roundup was led by the Hays County Precinct 1 Constable David Peterson, who dispatched three teams of deputy constables to track down noncompliant parents before they had a chance to leave their homes for the day. The attorney general’s Child Support Division (CSD) assisted in locating the delinquent parents.
“My office will not allow parents to sidestep their fundamental and moral responsibility to care for their children,” Attorney General Paxton said. “I commend everyone involved in holding accountable those who are brazenly delinquent on their child support payments. Their efforts help ensure better care and better lives for Texas children.”
Delinquent parents arrested in the sweep face up to six months in jail. Cash bonds that parents may pay go to the custodial parents and children who are owed back child support.
Parents who have fallen behind on child support – but do not yet have warrants out for their arrest – should immediately contact the attorney general’s CSD at (800) 252-8014 to arrange payments.
The attorney general’s office assists families who request child support services and currently receive or have received public assistance. Services offered include locating absent parents; establishing paternity; establishing, enforcing and modifying child and medical support orders; and collecting and distributing child support payments.
Statewide, child support collected by the attorney general’s office exceeded $4 billion for the state 2016 fiscal year. Parents in Hays County paid $16.6 million of that amount. For more information about the agency and the child support services it offers, call (800) 252-8014 or visit https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/cs/about-the-child-support-program