Partnership could bring prosecutions

Ninth Judicial District Attorney Matthew Chandler has been tasked with prosecuting deadbeat parents for child support payments in Roosevelt and Curry Counties, taking leadership under the governor's new program.

"Previously, New Mexico child support enforcement hasn't been brought to the forefront," said Troy Oliver, assistant district attorney to Chandler.

Chandler has presented 21 cases of child abandonment under Gov. Susana Martinez' child support Felony Prosecution Project.

The project, which was launched by Martinez in August, seeks the prosecution of the state's worst offenders for the abandonment of a child, a fourth-degree felony.

"She's made child support enforcement an issue in New Mexico," said Oliver. "Chandler has taken the leadership role to take these cases to criminal court."

According to a press release from Martinez' office, the project is a partnership between the New Mexico Human Services Department Child Support Enforcement Division and the District Attorneys' offices in the 3rd and 9th Judicial Districts, which cover Dona Ana, Curry and Roosevelt counties.

"One of the best factors in alleviating childhood poverty is the payment of child support," Martinez said in the press release. "This is another successful partnership that will help us to ensure that New Mexico's kids are getting the support they need and deserve. These continued efforts send a strong message to deadbeat parents that they can't hide from their obligations."

CSED identified 21 cases in the Ninth Judicial District for Chandler to present the cases to a grand jury. The grand jury returned felony indictments against each defendant and the indictments allow for the prosecution of these individuals who allegedly owe more than $587,000 in unpaid child support, according to Oliver.

"The most egregious cases are being referred to our office," Oliver said. "There are 17 people and 21 cases. Three defendants have more than one case."

Oliver said they are demanding payment from these non-custodial parents now that they're allowed to prosecute them.

"Prison time is the last resort for us," Oliver said. "What we want is payment for these children. This is a victim crime. These kids are victims of non-payment. So we intend to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law."

The non-custodial parents they are prosecuting have been investigated prior to their names being sent to Chandler's office.

"These aren't cases where they can't work. These are situations where they are choosing not to pay," Oliver said. "Our job is to indict them with a fourth degree felony and essentially use that as leverage to get them into payment."

Chandler sees the non-payment of these parents as an injustice.

"We met with one parent that is raising three children and is owed over $100,000 in child support by a father that has the ability to make his payments but would rather invest his money elsewhere," Chandler said in the press release. "That's not fair and it's not right, and it is time for these defendants to either take financial responsibility for their children or face the legal consequences."

Oliver said the plan is to get these parents under supervision through a probation office so that they will pay.

"We don't want to put people in prison so that they can't make their payments. We're taking a proactive approach to get payment so the victims of these crimes get the payment they deserve, a payment that is court-ordered," Oliver said.