Ohio Man Pleads Guilty To Failure To Pay Child Support

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Christopher J. Bernards, age 32, of Cincinnati, Ohio appeared before U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier on March 22, 2013 and pled guilty to an Indictment that charged him with Failure to Pay Legal Child Support. The maximum penalty upon conviction is two years imprisonment; a $250,000.00 fine; one year supervised release; one additional year of custody upon revocation; a $100.00 assessment fee; and child support restitution amount owing at the time of sentencing.

Bernards was ordered by the Third Judicial Circuit Court, Beadle County, South Dakota to pay $189.00 per month for his minor child, commencing April 1, 1999. At the time of Indictment, he had not made a child support payment since July of 2010, and the total arrearage amount was $10,719.30.

The investigation was conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Wright.

A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date was set for June 17, 2013. The defendant was released on bond pending sentencing.