Attorney General Abbott Announces Arrest Of Houston Child Support Evader Reginald James Davison sixth arrest from January Top Ten Evaders list

tx.us, Sep 19, 2005

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today announced the arrest of Child Support Evader Reginald James Davison, who owes more than $53,000 in unpaid child support for one daughter in Houston. Davison, who was arrested by officers with the Harris County Precinct 7 Constable’s Office, is the sixth person to be arrested from the Attorney General’s Top Ten List of Child Support Evaders released in January. He is the 42nd Evader to have been brought to justice since Attorney General Abbott took office in December 2002.

“Arrest and incarceration is the only option for parents who deliberately flee from their child support obligations,” said Attorney General Abbott. “I appreciate the cooperation of dedicated law enforcement officers who work with my office to hold parents accountable for their children’s care.”

Investigators with the Attorney General’s Special Enforcement Operations Division had been working for months to locate Davison, in cooperation with officers from Precinct 7 Constable Michael Butler’s office and other Harris County constables’ offices. While conducting surveillance earlier this month, Precinct 7 Detective Wilbert Marshall received a tip on a possible place of employment for Davison. Marshall, along with Deputy Constables Kenneth Smith and Delas Lancelin, subsequently arrested Davison on July 13, without incident, at a Houston-area car wash.

In December 2000, a judge ordered Davison to pay $470 per month to cover current support and $34,000 in arrears. The judge also placed Davison on probation for 120 months to monitor his progress in making child support payments. He failed to follow the court order, and was subsequently incarcerated in 2001. After his release, Davison continued to dodge his child support obligation, and he now owes more than $53,000, including interest on unpaid support.

Davison is being held in the Harris County Jail on a $3,000 cash bond on contempt-of-court charges for failure to comply with a court order requiring the payment of child support. If Davison pays the bond, the money will go to the child’s mother to help pay off his unpaid child support. A court hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Parents can avoid arrest by paying child support in full and on time. A parent who cannot comply due to loss of employment or other hardship should immediately contact the local child support office to make other arrangements.