Tennessee Man Pleads Guilty to Failure to Pay Legal Child Support

US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Scott A. Winter, age 45, of Clarksville, Tennessee, appeared before US District Judge Charles B. Kornmann on April 26, 2011, and pled guilty to an indictment that charged him with Failure to Pay Legal Child Support. The maximum penalty upon conviction is two years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and child support restitution amount owing at the time of sentencing.

Scott A. Winter was ordered by the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court, Brown County, South Dakota, to pay $154 per month for his minor children commencing May 1, 1991. Said support was later modified to $169 per month and modified again to $350 per month. At the time of indictment, Winter had not made a child support payment since May 2005, and the total arrearage amount was $12,845.70. The investigation was conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Thomas J. Wright.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for July 25, 2011. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the US Marshal pending sentencing.