Child Support

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- A Hagerstown man accused of failing to pay $47,084 in back child support was arraigned Thursday in Berkeley County Magistrate Court, according to court records. Kirk Leon Grantham, of 442 Jefferson St., was arraigned by Magistrate Joan V. Bragg, who set a $10,000 bond for the defendant. According to a complaint filed by West Virginia State Police Trooper P.L. North, Grantham admitted in circuit court proceedings that he was the biological father of a boy born in March 1996 and was ordered to pay child support beginning Oct. 1, 1998.

After spending a weekend in jail, Congress candidate Richard J. Lank is free and continuing his campaign. On Friday, Lank turned himself in to Montgomery County, Md., authorities, who wanted him on a September 2007 warrant connected to child-support money he owed. Capt. Chris Calantonio of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wednesday that Lank paid $2,100 that he owed, enough to get him out of jail Monday. Calantonio said Lank still owes about $35,000 in the case.

A Hagerstown couple who won $5.7 million is suing the Maryland State Lottery Agency for withholding $32,140 of their winnings to pay child support that the state of Michigan alleges is owed. [cont. from front page ] Harold and Shurl Bussard, of 13021 Cathedral Ave., sought a temporary restraining order and injunction against the state lottery, according to documents filed Monday in Washington County Circuit Court. That injunction asks that the lottery commission be barred from giving the money to the State of Michigan, where Bussard's ex-wife, Nancy Bussard, lives.

By KAREN MASTERSON Staff Writer Washington County and the corporate giant Lockheed Martin IMS have been competing for best performance in child support enforcement services for almost a year. As of July 1, both programs will be able to locate deadbeat parents more easily through a "new hire registry" - which requires employers to report names, address and earnings of the people they hire. This registry along with the two state demonstration projects - Lockheed's and Washington County's - are part of federal welfare reform laws and state-imposed programs designed to save the state money and get people off public assistance.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A Bunker Hill, W.Va., woman was arraigned Tuesday on five counts of counterfeiting after her landlord told police earlier this month that he received five suspect Travelers Express MoneyGrams totaling $4,100, according to Berkeley County Magistrate Court records. Rachelle Lynn Frye, 28, of 41 Sanford Drive, was arraigned by Magistrate Sandra L. Miller, who set bond at $12,500. The landlord told police that Frye asked him to assist her with cashing the checks in December at Citizens National Bank in Martinsburg, telling him she did not have a bank account, according to a complaint filed by West Virginia State Police Trooper J.M. Walker.

Committee kills subpoena powers bill ANNAPOLIS - A Maryland House of Delegates committee has killed a bill aimed at streamlining child support collection in Washington County. "I'm disappointed. Frankly, I don't know why it wasn't given more consideration," Washington County Department of Social Services Director David A. Engle said Tuesday. The legislation, which would have given Engle's agency the power to issue subpoenas for informal child support conferences, faced heavy criticism from some members of the House Judiciary Committee during a hearing last Thursday.

ANNAPOLIS - Washington County Department of Social Services Director David Engle doesn't usually like ceremonies. But a bill passed by the Maryland General Assembly this year was so important that Engle asked for an opportunity to shake Gov. Parris Glendening's hand. The law will pressure parents who don't pay their child support to work out their differences in pre-court conferences. "A lot of kids'll be helped by this bill," Engle said. Glendening actually signed the bill April 25. When Engle missed the event, Glendening gave him another chance to get his picture taken at Thursday's final bill-signing ceremony.

By KAREN MASTERSON Staff Writer Daniel H. Brown stood before the judge after spending three nights in jail for not paying child support. His excuse? "It slipped my mind," he said. Brown, 33, said his $34 weekly payment usually came straight out of his paycheck, but he switched jobs and the payments didn't transfer. "I went in Monday to pay for June and learned there was a bench warrant for my arrest," he said. He was locked up three nights until that Friday's child support enforcement hearings where he agreed to sign a promissory contract to continue paying child support.

WASHINGTON COUNTY marlob@herald-mail.com For the 318 people with outstanding warrants for nonpayment of child support in Washington County, the first two weeks of August could present a golden opportunity. A statewide amnesty program - the second since 2000 - will be in effect from today to Aug. 13. The program, "Make a Difference for Your Future and Your Child's Future," could mean more money to help children in need, said David Engle, director of the Washington County Department of Social Services.

laurae@herald-mail.com ANNAPOLIS -A call center in Beltsville, Md., soon will begin fielding all child support questions from Washington County parents. Washington County Department of Social Services Director David Engle told state lawmakers Wednesday that the switchover will happen sometime before the end of March. About 5,000 affected families in the county will be notified of the details by mail before the change. "We have a real special relationship with our customers and our customers are going to miss that and we're going to miss that," Engle said.