Court Opinion

ID: 9715994
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 06:22:51.83726+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:40.671663
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE KNECHT, specially concurring: I agree with the result reached by the majority. Such decisions rest within the sound discretion of the trial court, and must be decided on the facts of each case. The State contends one convicted of any offense resulting in incarceration should never be able to seek a modification. This position can, of course, be asserted without a transcript or bystander’s report; however, we have no transcript or bystander’s report to evaluate the use of discretion by the trial court. This deficiency in the record must be resolved against the appellant. Yet, I am concerned with whether this trial court used its discretion. This respondent did not pay his child support payments when he was not incarcerated. Respondent was in arrears on his child support obligations prior to any incarceration. The majority opinion makes no reference to the criminal charge underlying respondent’s incarceration. Respondent was incarcerated for a period of seven months upon a negotiated plea to a felony drug charge. Respondent apparently had sufficient assets to purchase controlled substances, yet he did not have sufficient funds to pay child support. Respondent did not have clean hands and his misconduct did occur in the transaction complained of — he chose to use his assets for illegal purposes rather than paying child support. It is pitiful he should seek to be rewarded for his crime by having his child support obligation suspended for the period of his incarceration. Perhaps the arrearage which would accumulate during incarceration if not suspended would place a heavy burden on respondent. So what? What about the burden on the taxpayer who supports respondent while he is incarcerated, and supports respondent’s child as well? What about the burden on society of a respondent who acknowledges child support obligations only when haled into court by the Department of Public Aid, and then falls in arrears perhaps because his interest in controlled substances exceeds his interest in employment or meeting his obligations? Respondent’s child support obligation is only $100 per month. His seven months’ incarceration would result in an additional arrearage, if not suspended, of $700. This is not an impossible burden, nor is it impractical to believe an employed respondent who shouldered his responsibilities could pay this debt and meet his other obligations. Respondent’s incarceration should not be an automatic pass. Trial courts need not automatically grant modifications such as the one here simply because of incarceration. An evidentiary hearing should be held which focuses on assets, work release, the length of incarceration, and whether a respondent used assets for illegal activity instead of paying child support.