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Crime & Safety

Dad Missed 12 Years in Child Support Payments, Police Say

An Indiana man is accused of owing more than $38,000 in back child support payments to his youngest child, according to a criminal complaint.

An Indiana man is accused of failing to pay child support for one of his children living in Waukesha for the past 12 years.

Joel Edwards, 54, of Valparaiso, Ind., was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court last week with three counts of failure to support a child. If convicted, he faces up to 4 1/2 years in prison and $30,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

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Edwards and his wife were officially divorced in January 2001 and he was ordered to pay $1,850 per month for his children, who were ages 9, 6 and 2 years old at that time.

However, his ex-wife reported in August that Edwards had never made child support payments to the youngest child, who is now 14 years old. The total amount owed in back child support by Edwards is $38,521.

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Edwards is currently out of custody and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

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