Child-Support Crackdown Traps Factory Worker Dad

William Koontz of Clarence, Mo., doesn’t want to be considered a deadbeat dad, despite years of not paying child support for his four older children.

His former wife, Tamara Robinson of Homosassa, Fla., says she doesn’t bear him any grudges, even though she has been on welfare since they divorced and he has not visited the children.

She wanted the divorce, not he. The children haven’t suffered, she said, adding, “They don’t even know him.”

But last year, Florida, like many states trying to cut welfare, went after Koontz. With the help of Missouri authorities, Florida now gets half of Koontz’s pay for current child-support expenses and for the years in which he paid nothing.

In addition, the Internal Revenue Service recently notified him that his $2,308 tax refund would go toward the debt, not to him.

Many people would applaud what is happening to Koontz, at a time when society is urging absent fathers to support their children.

But the $96,000 that Koontz owes for back child support is probably more than the $15,000-a-year factory worker can ever pay off. And the money won’t go to his children, but to reimburse the state of Florida for its payments since 1989.

Koontz, while acknowledging that he did not pay adequate attention at the time, insists that the original judge’s order that led to his debt was based on his ex-wife’s false testimony about his wages.

Furthermore, the $140 being taken from his weekly pay is such a cut that it’s impoverishing his new family: a second wife, two preschool children and two stepchildren. They’re now on food stamps.

Child-support experts say Koontz’s case is not unusual among men who lose their jobs, experience deep cuts in pay, have second families or feel their original divorce settlement was unfair.

“I dealt with a man who went to jail for 14 years,” said Murray Steinberg, a legal counselor for the Family Resolution Council in Richmond, Va., which tries to educate people on their rights and obligations in divorce.

The man’s attorney didn’t get the child support suspended and when the man got out, he owed $42,000.

“He was ordered to pay it back at a rate of $100 a week. But he was over 60 years old and could not even find a job that paid him $100 a week,” Steinberg said.

Koontz was driving trucks for a carnival company when his first marriage ended. He said he didn’t learn the divorce had been finalized until weeks later because he was on the road in another state.

His first wife had told the judge he made $1,000 a week, and says she still believes that was true.

Soon, a withholding order for $280 a week was sent to Koontz’s employer by child-support enforcement authorities. The carnival firm replied that the amount exceeded Koontz’s pay and asked for further guidance.

None came.

“I knew she [his former wife] was already collecting AFDC,” said Koontz. “I figured maybe they can see I don’t have enough money. I figured it was over.”

He said he also feared that any money he sent directly to his ex-wife would not go to support the children.

According to his tax returns, Koontz grossed $299 a week the year before the divorce. The next year, he was sick and earned only $2,437 total. His income gradually improved, but it’s still not high enough to meet the judge’s order and allow him to support himself.

By law, the state can withhold no more than half his pay, so each week Koontz’s debt grows.

“I think he is a prime example of why people who owe child support shouldn’t ignore the problem,” said Michael Henry, past president of the National Child Support Enforcement Assn. and a consultant to states trying to design better child-support programs.

But seven years ago, child support wasn’t as publicized as it is today, noted Elaine Sorensen, a senior research associate at the Urban Institute. “People didn’t realize the way the debt would accrue.”

About one-third of fathers who owe child support have new families, Sorensen said. “These orders aren’t adjusted to reflect the new family.”

Under federal law, parents cannot escape their child-support debts, even if they are bankrupt.

Koontz’s current payments could be reduced to reflect his income so the debt doesn’t continue to grow. The arrears would still have to be paid.

But Koontz said he can’t afford an attorney to argue his case. Florida officials wouldn’t comment on his case because of privacy concerns.

“I don’t mind supporting my children,” Koontz said. “But when they wait until it is an exorbitant amount and never answer the letters from the place I was working, that doesn’t make any sense.”