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Three Dead-Beat Parents Arrested |
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| Peter Andrew Finney |
Melissa Ann Barefoot |
Ronald Edward Earley, Jr. |
Lexington County Sheriff’s Department fugitive investigators on Monday, November 2 arrested a 31-year-old Lexington man, 43-year-old Pelion woman and 52-year-old Lexington man on family court bench warrants that were issued after the three persons did not make a combined total of nearly $80,000 in court-ordered child support payments in Lexington County.
Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts said investigators arrested Peter Andrew Finney, 31, of 153 Highland Drive, Lexington; Melissa Ann Barefoot, 43, of 334 Catherine Drive, Pelion; and Ronald Edward Earley, Jr., 52, of 246 Cross Road, Lexington. Finney, Barefoot and Earley all were being held on Tuesday, November 3 at the Lexington County Detention Center while awaiting hearings in family court to resolve their Lexington County child support cases.
Investigators served Finney with a family court bench warrant at 9 p.m. on Monday after an officer with the Batesburg-Leesville Police Department determined that Finney was listed on the National Crime Information Center computer database as a person who was wanted by the Sheriff’s Department on a family court bench warrant, Metts said. The Batesburg-Leesville police officer detained Finney.
Investigators arrested Barefoot at 10:15 p.m. on Monday at her home near Pelion, Metts said. Investigators found Barefoot sitting on a couch in her home’s den.
Investigators arrested Earley at 7 p.m. on Monday at his home near Lexington, Metts said. Officers took Earley into custody after he opened the front door at his home.
So far this year, Lexington County sheriff’s fugitive investigators have arrested 91 habitual offenders who did not make a combined total of more than $2.3 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 Finney’s arrest on May 29, 2008 after Finney did not appear in court for a hearing on his Lexington County child support case. Finney has not made court-ordered child support payments totaling $10,029 in Lexington County.
A family court judge issued a bench warrant for Barefoot’s arrest on October 26 after Barefoot did not appear in court for a hearing on her Lexington County child support case, Carrigg said. Barefoot has not made court-ordered child support payments totaling $34,544 in Lexington County.
A family court judge issued a bench warrant for Earley’s arrest on October 26 after Earley did not appear in court for a hearing on his Lexington County child support case, Carrigg said. Earley has not made court-ordered child support payments totaling $34,525 in Lexington County.
So far this year, fugitive investigators have served more than 481 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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