A New Jersey man who owes close to $100,000 in child support was arrested earlier this month.

According to a recent news report, Mercer County Sheriff’s officers tracked down the 38-year-old man at a motel in Lawrence, New Jersey. He was taken into custody because he had three outstanding child support warrants, authorities said.

The news report detailed the outstanding warrants as being in the amounts of $65,440, $24,759 and $2,715.

Each state has their own system to calculate how much child support should be paid by the noncustodial parent. In New Jersey, child support is determined under the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines for middle income parents. These guidelines use a formula that considers each parent’s income, tax withholdings, how much time the child spends at each home, the child’s medical insurance premiums, and day care information.

Those who are unable to pay what the equation suggests, and those whose income changes substantially, may petition for a modification of the child support order.

This man, who was obviously delinquent on his child support payments for some time, was being watched by two undercover sheriff’s detectives who were assigned to the case by the U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force.

When he realized the two men were undercover law enforcement officers, he reportedly led police on a foot chase before he was apprehended.

It is especially important to work within the legal system when there are disagreements or problems regarding child support payments. Those who refuse to pay child support can have their wages garnished or their belongings repossessed – and even face jail time, which may be the case for this man.

Source: The Times, “Police: Man delinquent on child support caught in Lawrence,” Alex Zdan, Nov. 5, 2011