Alleged ‘Deadbeat Dad’ to Face Trial

A judge ordered the man dubbed Ventura County’s worst “deadbeat dad” to stand trial for allegedly continuing to miss child support payments.

Prosecutors allege that Larry Lee Roberts owes more than $260,000 in child support payments and interest on the unpaid amount to his three teenage children and their mother in Newbury Park.

Roberts has missed nearly 12 years of payments and was arrested in Colorado earlier this year, prosecutors said.

A judge sentenced Roberts to one year in jail after he was convicted of a misdemeanor charge of failing to pay support. After his release in October, Roberts moved to Colorado but prosecutors continued to monitor him, Deputy Dist. Atty. Kevin D. Farrell said.

After Roberts neglected to make three $1,300 monthly payments, he was arrested and extradited to Ventura. This time prosecutors are charging Roberts with a felony, and he faces a year in state prison if convicted.

“Regrettably, he is pretty typical of a lot of dads who turn their backs on their responsibility,” Farrell said.

Municipal Court Judge Thomas J. Hutchins also refused to release Rogers from jail on his own recognizance while he awaits trial. Rogers remains jailed in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Farrell said Roberts was at one time a finance manager for an auto dealer and “making good money” when the support payments were ordered. However, in the last few years, Roberts has lived on low-income jobs, mostly where he was paid in cash, Farrell said. Roberts was working as a food deliveryman at the time of his arrest, Farrell said.

“He has tried to drop out” of sight, he said.