Former Baseball Star Arrested After Failing to Pay Child Support
Posted on Dec 22, 2008 10:08am PST
This past Thursday, former Texas professional baseball player, Troy Neel was arrested by authorities after he failed to make over $724,000 in
child support payments. Neel was arrested in Los Angeles on both state and federal charges for unpaid child support.
In the 1990s, Neel was a professional baseball player for Oakland Athletics. He played for Oakland throughout the early 90s and then for several professional teams in Japan until 2000.
According to Travis County Court legal documents, Neel was ordered to pay his ex-wife $5,000 a month in child support for his two children after he obtained a
divorce.
In the beginning, Neel was able to make the payments, but then he came into tough financial times and was unable to continue making ordered payments. He wrote the Attorney General and asked for help. According to Neel's defense attorney, James Sustaita, Neel, "told the Texas Attorney General's Office that the amount of child support ordered to pay was just impossible. He couldn't afford it."
Neel claims that he was only able to make partial child support payments. At this time, he owes the balance of unpaid support and a 12 percent interest charge that will continue to grow. The interest alone amounts to $2,600 to $2,700 a month. Neel told reporters that he loves both of his children and he is trying to do the right thing.
However, the Attorney General's office begs to differ with Neel, and has even posted pictures of Neel's private South Pacific resort on its website. Neel and his attorneys have countered the Attorney General office's speculation by saying that Neel no longer owns the resort.
The family law attorneys representing Neel have filed a motion in Travis County to have the monthly child support payments lowered. They argue that the payments should have been lowered years ago.
At this time, Neel remains in police custody in Los Angeles. He will be brought to Texas to face both civil and criminal charges related to his $724,000 in unpaid child support.
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