Not The Father, But Court Holding Him Responsible For Child Support
DETROIT (AP) - Carnell Alexander says he isn't the father of his ex-girlfriend's baby, and she and a DNA test agree with him.
Even so, Michigan wants the Detroit man to pay the state $30,000 in back child support.
Michigan now is threatening to imprison Alexander for his refusal to pay the money in the paternity case that started in the 1980s when the woman gave his name to a case worker so she could get assistance for her baby, he told WXYZ-TV for a story last week.
The woman told the station that a court forgave half of what the state said Alexander owes, while he said a DNA test taken years after the 1987 birth proves he isn't the father.
None that apparently matters, he said, adding "case closed. I got to pay for the baby."
"We know this is not my child so let's do what we need to do, what's right," Alexander said.
Employees of the court's child support collection office told WXYZ that they couldn't speak specifically about his case.
Alexander said he first learned he was considered a deadbeat dad during a traffic stop when an officer told him there was a warrant for his arrest.
He was accused of ignoring an earlier summons in the paternity case. Alexander said he was in prison when the process server appeared at his father's home.
"I had no knowledge that I had a child support case against me," he said.
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