Donor Settles Part of Support Bill
A man who donated his kidney to someone he met over the Internet was freed from jail Tuesday after he paid part of his delinquent child-support payments.
Robert Smitty was jailed Thursday over $8,100 in unpaid child support, eight days after the kidney transplant operation. He was released after paying $1,150, authorities said. A payment plan for the rest of the debt will be set up.
Smitty’s attorney, Bill Speek, said anonymous donors had contributed $2,650 toward his release.
Smitty donated his kidney to Colorado resident Bob Hickey, 58, on Oct. 20 after the men met through MatchingDonors.com, a commercial website that matches potential donors with people needing transplants.
Doctors proceeded with the operation only after Smitty, 32, assured them that he did not profit financially from the organ donation.
Smitty’s former wife has custody of their 10-year-old daughter.
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