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Two Dead-Beat Dads Arrested |
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| Ernest Michael Bell |
John Heath Ottinger, II |
Lexington County Sheriff’s Department deputies have arrested a 28-year-old West Columbia man and 33-year-old Gaston man who had been wanted on family court bench warrants that were issued after the two men did not make a combined total of more than $50,000 in court-ordered child support payments in Lexington County.
Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts said deputies arrested Ernest Michael Bell, 33, at 12:40 a.m. on Tuesday, September 22 at Bell’s home at 1088 Fallaw Road near Gaston. Bell was being held on Tuesday at the Lexington County Detention Center while awaiting a hearing in family court to resolve his child support case.
Deputies arrested John Heath Ottinger, II, 28, of 117 Grimsby Lane, West Columbia, at 3:01 p.m. on Monday, September 21, Metts said. Ottinger was being held on Tuesday at the county Detention Center while awaiting a hearing in family court to resolve his child support case.
So far this year, deputies have arrested 85 habitual offenders who did not make a combined total of more than $2.2 million in court-ordered child support payments in Lexington County, Metts said.
Lexington County Clerk of Court Beth Carrigg said a family court judge issued a bench warrant for Bell’s arrest on March 23 after Bell, who was featured on the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department Wanted Person List, did not make court-ordered child support payments totaling $33,846 in Lexington County. A family court judge issued a bench warrant for Ottinger’s arrest on August 10 after Ottinger did not make court-ordered child support payments totaling $12,096 in Lexington County.
So far this year, fugitive investigators have served more than 418 family court bench warrants on dead-beat parents who have not made court-ordered child support payments in Lexington County, Metts said. In 2008, investigators served 668 family court bench warrants on persons who did not make court-ordered child support payments in Lexington County.
Non-custodial parents who owe court-ordered child support payments in Lexington County can make arrangements to resolve family court bench warrants that have been issued for their arrests by calling the Clerk of Court’s Office at (803) 785-1196, Carrigg said.
Non-custodial parents who are wanted on family court bench warrants also can surrender at the Lexington County James R. Metts Law Enforcement Complex, 521 Gibson Road, Lexington, Metts said.
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