As Bulloch County Sheriff’s deputies cruised around town Tuesday, deadbeat dads were surprised when the law knocked on their doors wanting child support money.
Actually, the deputies were rounding up men who had not been paying child support. Over a half million dollars is owed by 26 different area men, and a handful ended up behind bars Tuesday because they have not paid their dues, said Bulloch County Sheriff Lynn Anderson.
As patrol cars rolled into neighborhoods around Statesboro and Bulloch County, neighbors stopped what they were doing to watch. Many visits netted no suspects, due to deputies being given old addresses or incorrect information.
However, five men were apprehended Tuesday morning, including one man at Blakewoods Apartments who surreptitiously slipped into one apartment while deputies questioned a woman at another.
Cavin McMillan, 29, East Olliff Street, was on his cell phone when deputies drove up. While three deputies formed a perimeter around the apartment, McMillan continued his phone conversation while casting his eyes around the neighborhood. He quietly slipped into the open door of one apartment while deputies spoke to a woman with two small boys in the apartment next door.
Within moments, however, law enforcement learned the man for whom they were looking was the one who had just taken refuge. A knock at the door, McMillan opened it, and was handcuffed, charged with child support lockup, or failure to pay.
Bulloch County Sheriff’s Inv. Jared Akins assisted deputy Richard Reid and Cpl. Greg Collins as they made rounds to Turner Street, Len Tenner Court, Denmark Street, President Circle and Blakewoods Apartments.
He said suspects arrested would be taken to the Bulloch County Jail, booked in, then taken to a courtroom where they could discuss payment terms with child support officials. If an agreement was not reached, the suspects faced Bulloch County Superior Court Judge John R. Turner for sentencing.
The 26 men on the round up list are “Bulloch County’s Most wanted,” Anderson said.
The round up resulted in repeated complaints about men being extremely behind in their payments, Akins said. The effort to round them up also involved the Bulloch County Child Support agency and Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.
“Superior Court judges… hear the cases involving nonpayment of child support by parents,” Anderson said. “Should the parent fail to appear of fail to pay child support as required, the judge may issue a child support lock up order for the parent’s arrest.”
The high amount of unpaid money led sheriff’s officials to coordinate the “roundup of major violators,” he said.
One of the 26 suspects owes around $42,000, he said. Adding up all the money these 26 individuals owe, the sum nears $500,000, he said.
Several suspects have not yet been located, but the sweep is ongoing, Anderson said. Suspects can turn themselves in at the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, and anyone with information about a suspect’s location is asked to call the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office at (764-8888) or Collins at 764-1771.Calls are confidential.
Arrested and in custody as of Wednesday afternoon, the following were in custody: Carlos Howard, 34, Hodges Circle; Miguel Hughes, 31, Moore Road, Portal; Cavin McMillan, 29, East Olliff Street; Marvin Perkins, 47, Denmark Street; and Arthur Dan Lee, 31, Solomon Circle.
Still at large are James Alston II, Len Tenner Court; Jackie E. Beasley, U.S. 301 North; Clarence Earvin Childers, Williams Lane; Anthony Jermail Drummer, Simmons Lane; Randall L. Edenfield, U.S. 80 East, Brooklet.
Also, Leroy Ethridge, Packinghouse Road;; Jimmy Hanks III, Groover Street; Bobby Hobbs, Madeira Court; James Hobbs, West Inman Street; Quavis Holloway, Kennedy Bridge Road, Register; Andrew Jackson, Holloway Circle, Register; Leroy Jones Jr., Skye Drive; Phillip Anthony Kirkland, Vista Circle; Scott Lank, West Waters Lane, Clito; David Lee Jr., Akins Circle; and Antonio Marshall, Proctor Street.
Also, Willie Moore, Ga. 46; Ralph Tremble, Simons Road; Corey Deshone White, Edwina Drive.
Anderson said the sweep will continue as more offenders are arrested. The round ups will likely occur on a monthly basis as increased efforts are made to eliminate the problem and ensure parents, both mothers and fathers, support their children, he said.
Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at 912-489-9414.