Man owing $30,000 in child support extradited from Wisconsin

Thursday, April 8, 2021
Matthew Finley

A man is back in Putnam County on a 13-year-old warrant for failure to pay child support and theft.

Matthew Finley, 39, was booked in the Putnam County Jail last week, extradited from Appleton, Wis.

According to a Putnam County Sheriff’s Office social media post, Sheriff Scott Stockton delivered Finley, who owes more than $30,000 in back child support, to the jail from the custody of the Outagamie County (Wis.) Sheriff’s Office.

Finley also faces a warrant out of Marion County for felony driving while intoxicated from 2005.

In the post, the Sheriff’s Office also reminded would-be offenders of the hazards of not staying up to date on child support pyments.

“Many people are not aware, but arrest warrants for child support have full extradition anywhere in the United States,” the post stated. “Stay current on those payments or you may take a very long trip back to Indiana in a jail van.”

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  • *

    I'm rather curious what the point was in bringing him back. Some publicity for Stockton and Bookwalter?

    The cost to return him are borne by the taxpayers of Putnam County. (Unless there is some special fund that pays for these sort of things. We all know how the PCSD and the Prosecutore love their slush funds a la CIVIL ASSET FORFEITURE.)

    I really doubt he has any money with which to pay $30k+ in back child support. And you cant get what ain't there.

    Any job he may have had in WI is now gone b/c he ain't getting out of jail until his hearing... in these cases bail is supposed to be set at the amount of child support owed.

    And when he goes to court it is unlikely he will be sentenced to anything substantial (likely time served) b/c keeping him in jail isn't going to solve anything.

    Its possible that the child support order made things worse for this guy and his children. I've seen many cases of child support destroying relationships.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Thu, Apr 8, 2021, at 7:27 PM
  • That’s easy for you to point fingers and make accusations, but if he owed you that money, I’m sure you would look at things a lot differently.

    -- Posted by krozelle_hlpoa on Thu, Apr 8, 2021, at 8:16 PM
  • krozelle_hlpoa ... exactly

    -- Posted by lisa3 on Fri, Apr 9, 2021, at 11:18 AM
  • DPR: Why would anyone pay support if the court order isn't enforced? $30,000 behind? Heck I'll just move 50 miles to Illinois and they won't touch me!

    -- Posted by Ben Dover on Fri, Apr 9, 2021, at 11:22 AM
  • The Sheriff went, so it didn’t cost us much more than the gas for the van and a hotel room. But why in the world was he released on his promise to show back up? Last time that happened he disappeared for 13 years.

    -- Posted by The Crusty Curmudgeon on Fri, Apr 9, 2021, at 6:01 PM
  • *

    Krozelle / Lisa - I personally know someone who is owed over $50k in back support. She lives in Indiana. (Not Putnam County.) Ex-husband lives out of state. Neither place will bother b/c there is no point... he has no money and no job.

    As for me... I have custody of my child and I am owed support (court order thru divorce) but I don't keep track or bother with it b/c the relationship with mom is much more important to me than her money. She helps when she can and that's good enough for me.

    My child is not a pawn in some game nor are they a cash cow, and I won't damage them for the sake of a few dollars or some hurt feelings.

    ...

    BenDover - the child support system is designed the same way the rest of the legal system is designed. For those to whom it matters, they enforce it. Criminals will be criminals and not follow the law. Those that don't want to be in trouble with the law follow the law. These are the people they punish.

    I have seen many people, of both sexes, get out of paying support either by running/hiding or gaming the system (claiming an inability to pay) or running out the clock bc once the child is of age it pretty much becomes a civil issue and mostly a moot point.

    The child support system in general is horrible and along with no-fault divorce has pretty much destroyed the social structure of America.

    Where it should be a rare thing carefully scrutinized and implemented, it is now a formulaic cudgel with which to beat non-custodial parents without regard to its effect.

    ...

    POTUS - Do you think the Sheriff just ran up there on his own time? I'm gonna guess it cost a lot more than gas for the van and a hotel room. Maybe we should ask for an accounting?

    He was likely released b/c its cheaper for the county than housing him in jail when they ain't getting any money out of him anyway. It would've been cheaper to leave him up there... you are likely to get the same result in the end.

    ...

    Pray for the child. They are the biggest loser in all of this.

    Perhaps we should start thinking about them first and not as an item for a ledger sheet.

    Just my $.02.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Fri, Apr 9, 2021, at 10:50 PM
  • You are trying to engage practical sense and real life into a conversation that is emotion based.

    That is a sad combination as logic and reality can't be reasoned when emotion rules the day.

    This isn't a single layer issue, single layer solution, a one specific example topic.

    It is complex and multi layered. To genuinely seek and find legit solutions, it requires action and behavior that goes beyond any one situation and/ or emotion.

    Everything you share is accurate but if what you said doesn't fit someone's specific situation, then you are thrown to the side as uncaring and rude.

    I don't have full proof solutions but do think there are actions that move us closer to solutions. Your thoughts do that also. Unfortunately, they will be lost in the lack of seeking real solutions and you will be labeled many bad things.

    It is easier to do that than put in the real energy to find solutions.

    Best example I can give- our current situation at the southern border. We will never have real conversations that will lead us to potential better positions because that requires dealing in the totality of the reality of today and the reality of tomorrow vs a POTM emotion or specific situation.

    Maybe another way to look at it- 40 people go to a restaurant. 39 have a great experience. 1 does not. Who is correct when grading the restaurant. 39 will have one opinion. The 1, his/ her friends, and emotion based/ POTM perception will have a different position.

    I applaud you and your willingness to stick out your neck and try to deal with this topic in a practical and totality manner (and it seems one that you have experience in). Unfortunately, those who can't will take the easy way out, call you names, and attempt to get others to hate you.

    I am not taking a position in support of or against your thoughts. The issue is so complex when you really dig into it.

    I do applaud you for being legit in your seriousness, practical intellectualism, and trying to look deeper into a real problem that is also very personal and emotional.

    Note you offer conversation. Others only offer attack and deflection of a conversation of the issue.

    Even when I disagree or not sure where I stand, I appreciate that you are willing to engage in conversation. Others don't. In the end, it is what it is.

    -- Posted by beg on Sat, Apr 10, 2021, at 12:17 AM
  • The point of bringing them back is to fulfill the body attachment. The judge will lower it a few times until the debtor can finally scrape together the money to bail out. Those funds are then paid on the delinquent account.

    People who make the choice to produce a child should be responsible for the care and funding for that child, and legally are. Those who refuse to support their children transfer that burden to the taxpayer.

    -- Posted by techphcy on Sat, Apr 10, 2021, at 1:11 AM
  • Glad to see this dead beat dad was arrested. Men that don't pay their child support are bums.

    -- Posted by Queen53 on Sat, Apr 10, 2021, at 10:38 AM
  • What about women, who make up almost 50% of those parents who don’t pay their support?

    -- Posted by techphcy on Sun, Apr 11, 2021, at 12:10 AM
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