One mom, 11 dads top most-wanted list

From left to right; top row: Hensley, Doster, Higgins; second row: Smith, Poovey, Nelson; third row: Tevepaugh, Buff, Clark; fourth row: Michaels, Johnson, McKee

By: Julie n. Chang | Morganton News Herald
Published: March 14, 2010

MORGANTON --

Although the unemployment rate in the area is in double digits, it's not an excuse to skip out on child support payments, says the Burke County Department of Social Services. Law enforcement officers also are stepping up their efforts to catch non-supporting parents.
Burke County Sheriff's Office Maj. Banks Hinceman said on Feb. 23, the community police division managed to serve warrants to 12 parents who were behind on child support payments.
Hinceman said sometimes it's difficult to serve those warrants because the person might not be easy to find.
Deputies also are on patrol duty when trying to serve the warrants, which prevents them from immediately following a lead, Hinceman said. The day of the round-up, those officers were assigned to specifically serve warrants for people behind on child support payments.
Norma Bagwell, Burke County DSS child support supervisor said the department regularly circulates a most-wanted list of absent parents about every three to six months. Sometimes the department will get tips from the community, but it's usually "very difficult" to find absent parents.
Bagwell said some parents have up to three confirmed addresses, use aliases or use different Social Security numbers to avoid paying child support.
Because of the unemployment in the area, there are a large number of cases right now where parents are behind on payments, Bagwell said.
Hinceman said the sheriff's office would try to conduct round-ups as much as they could.
Below are the current 12 most-wanted non-supporting absent parents:
• Vincent Hensley Jr., 45. A 6-foot-1-inch tall, white man with brown hair and eyes. Total arrears: $10,409.
• John W. Doster, 38. A 6-foot-2-inch tall, white man with blond hair and blue eyes. Total arrears: $21,367.
• Jeffery L. Higgins, 48. A 6-foot-1-inch tall, white man with black hair and hazel eyes. Total arrears: $20,445.
• Charles E. Smith, 45. A 5-foot-9-inch tall, white man with blond hair and blue eyes. Total arrears: $15,234.
• Daniel M. Poovey Sr., 39. A 5-foot-8-inch tall, white man with brown hair and blue eyes. Total arrears: $40,519.
• Michael W. Nelson, 40. A 5-foot-8-inch tall, white man with blond hair and blue eyes. Total arrears: $29,172.
• Scottie R. Tevepaugh, 43. A white man with red hair and hazel eyes. Total arrears: $21,435.
• Travis D. Buff, 29. A 5-foot, 8-inch tall, white man with brown hair and blue eyes. Total arrears: $17,649.
• Jessie Alan Clark, 28. A white man with brown hair and eyes. Total arrears: $22,453.
• Casey K. Michaels, 31. A 5-foot-3-inch tall, white woman with brown hair and green eyes. Total arrears: $6,119.
• Gary Samuel Johnson, 39. A 6-foot-1-inch tall, black man with black hair and brown eyes. Total arrears: $19,277.
• Jeremy Roger McKee, 37. A 5-foot-8-inch white tall, man with brown hair and hazel eyes. Total arrears: $42,064.
Anyone with information regarding these parents' whereabouts should contact child support enforcement at 438-3500.

One mom, 11 dads top most-wanted list

Share This:

More from this channel:

Reader Comments

Deal of the Day

Most Popular

More Ways to Connect

Reader Photos» Browse More

Things to Do