UnityWall.com

Jana Engle

10 years ago my husband of 15 years now was sent a statement from AZ CSED. He was named father to an 11 year-old boy. The boy is 21-years-old now. After hiring attorneys in Alaska and Arizona, a DNA test was obtained after 7 years.

The state of AZ had served my husband's last known address (in AZ) when the boy was 2 years old. This occurred while he was in Alaska, unaware of the summons to court. This was all AZ had to do to label him an "absent parent" and pass down a monthly child support order. When they tracked him down - all monthly payments, penalties and interest had accumulated, totaling close to $100,000 now.

The DNA proved my husband as biological father. The boy's mom was on public assistance his entire life - my husband had never met him. He could barely remember the boy's mother from his much younger years in college.

Our lives have been consumed with this never-ending CSED case. Monthly payments are $1200. My husband was extradited from Alaska to Arizona. He was shackled, waist belted and cuffed like a murderer...escorted by 2 AZ Deputy Sheriffs through 2 major airports after a Governor's warrant was signed.

He had surrendered to authorities and sat for a month in the local jail awaiting extradition; he was only extradited after I called Alaska's Governor to see how he could be held so long when we had offered to pay for a ticket to fly to AZ himself. (He had flown back and forth several times by then attempting to resolve the issue).

We drummed up as much money as we could beg or borrow in order to get his release and pay on the support. I filed bankruptcy for our debts. I even had to take anti-depressants myself for a time.

The state of AZ. put my husband on FELONY probation and he was able to come back to Alaska; he was supervised by a PO here. Additionally, any person in arrearage for child support payments has their driver's license suspended - he hasn't been able to drive for a few years now.

Labeled a felon, not being able to drive, on probation, and unable to pay high monthly payments took a toll on my husband; he became anxious, stressed and severely depressed with suicide attempts. He was admitted to a psychiatric hospital on a few occasions.

In April 2006 AZ put another warrant out for my husband's arrest. Alaska said "no" to AZ's 2nd extradition attempt calling it a financial, not a criminal matter.

My husband flew to AZ himself. He was remanded 6/26/06 in Globe, AZ and is currently IN PRISON for non-payment of support.

A 3rd warrant was issued from Gila County while he has been in prison... from civil court for the same CSED issues! This is over-criminalization of America. My husband is in prison with dangerous criminals. His crime: being poor in an unjust system.

-Jana Engle for Douglas Engle