Sheriff rounds up alleged child support scofflaws

Eight men who collectively owed more than $61,000 in child support arrearages for nine children were awakened by Montgomery County sheriff’s deputies on Feb. 9 for a trip to see a judge.

A team of deputies, including a K9 unit, took the men into custody during an overnight sweep of parents who allegedly failed to pay child support or did not show up for domestic relations hearings and who collectively owed $61,191.44 in child support, according to county Sheriff Sean P. Kilkenny.

Deputies conducted the roundup between 12:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. in Pottstown, Boyertown, Spring City, North Wales, Upper Providence and Douglass (Mont.). Officials said one of the men attempted to hide but otherwise, the raid was conducted without incident.

Each of the alleged offenders was to be taken before a county judge for a hearing to answer to the allegations or to make payment arrangements.

According to the sheriff’s office, the following people were taken into custody to await hearings:

• Ronald Durr, of the 600 block of Beech Street, Pottstown, who allegedly owed $16,657.18 for two children.

• Harley Woodley, of the first block of West 10th Street, Pottstown, who allegedly owed $2,965.24 for one child.

• Gregory Graham, of the 100 block of South Werstler Avenue, Douglass (Mont.), who allegedly owed $1,759.51 for one child.

• Jonathan Hicks, of the 300 block of Collegeville Road, Collegeville, who allegedly owed $3,187.76 for one child.

• Zachary Wilkinson, of the 400 block of Rhoads Avenue, Boyertown, who allegedly owed $13,899 for one child.

• Christopher Whiteman, of the first block of Fords Edge, Upper Providence, who allegedly owed $2,902.98 for one child.

• Michael Casner, of the 100 block of North Main Street, Spring City, who allegedly owed $1,323.99 for one child.

• Richard Tompkins Sr., of the 100 block of South Main Street, North Wales, who allegedly owed $18,495.78 for one child.

The sheriff’s department encourages those parents who have missed a court date to turn themselves in rather than having deputies drag them out of bed early in the morning.

Those who do not turn themselves in are placed on the department’s “Domestic Relations Most Wanted for Child Support” list and have their photos and last known addresses placed on the sheriff’s website and on Twitter and Facebook accounts. Officials previously said the office receives several tips from people through social media.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of someone wanted on a bench warrant for failing to pay child support is encouraged to call the office’s tip-line at 610278-3340 or tipsters can anonymously send a tip to the office through the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office website at www.montcopa.org/sheriff

Tips can also be submitted by posting a message on the department’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.