Sheriff’s office arrests 31 in statewide nonsupport sweep
The sweep, carried out in most New Jersey counties, tracks down parents with outstanding warrants for failure to pay child support.
Sheriff Michael F. Strada today announced his agency’s recent participation in the New Jersey Statewide Nonsupport Warrant Sweep. The sweep was sponsored by the Sheriff’s Association of New Jersey and was conducted in full cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Family Development, the Office of Child Support Services and the probation divisions of each respective county in the state.
Beginning in the early morning hours of Tuesday June, 18, 2013 and continuing through Thursday June 20, 2013, Sussex County sheriff’s officers—with arrest warrants issued by a Superior Court in New Jersey—arrested the following 26 individuals who failed to comply with court-ordered child support payments. An asterisk (*) next to a name denotes that individual has multiple non-support warrants for separate obligations.
Defendant Age Residence Amount Owed
Melanie Griffiths 36 Vernon $5,263.70
Sereca Thomas 29 Franklin $5,790.26
Jarred Bruce 32 Franklin $18,496.83
Alfred Davidson* 31 Sussex $22,213.28
Frank Mears 46 Newton $8,906.67
Robert Sipila 58 Vernon $3,200.00
Travis Kretzschmar 30 Vernon $3,904.00
Robert Farruggia 51 Netcong $54,043.88
Charles Heddy 41 Allamuchy $24,810.28
Thomas Scherzer 46 Roxbury $51,994.16
Roger Weaver* 45 Roxbury $161,080.58
Michael Burns 46 Sparta $4,124.91
Lisa Ayers 49 Newton $850.34
Vincent Scardino 43 Andover $6,706.76
Daryl Michael 42 Newton $4,311.12
Douglas Potente 27 Vernon $6,086.76
Scott Baker 44 Toms River $2,520.00
David Murphy 50 Branchville $57,347.80
Michael Krajci 43 Franklin $11,884.00
Kevin Smith 58 Sussex $3,364.28
Everett Scott 40 Branchville $649.00
Paula Babcock 52 Hamburg $3,218.17
Maria Brock 48 Vernon $13,796.27
Dustin Storm 39 Sandyston $4,708.74
Brett Hinchman 34 Pequannock $22,259.71
Shannon Cuthbert 26 Atlantic City $2,340.00
An additional five other individuals voluntarily surrendered themselves at the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office during the sweep.
In terms of overall collections gathered throughout New Jersey, Sussex County was third in the state. Of the 35 warrants served, a total of $33,756.71 was collected.
All persons arrested in the sweep were processed and lodged in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility. Those incarcerated were given the opportunity to make a payment of the monies owed in order to be released. If unable to make full payment, they will be rescheduled for a court appearance before a Superior Court judge. At that time, the judge will make a determination regarding the amount of child support that must be paid on a case-by-case basis.
Sheriff Strada advises Sussex County residents with an active warrant for nonsupport to be proactive and contact his office to make arrangements for surrender.
Additionally, the sheriff asks any member of the public who can provide information that may lead to the arrest of someone who owes child support to contact the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Crime Stoppers toll-free tip line at (888) 973-CRIME. Tips may also be submitted online through the Crime Stoppers Online Anonymous Tip Form. Your information can greatly assist the sheriff’s office in enforcing outstanding warrants. If the information you provide leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a cash reward.