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Former Ray Ordered To Field Child Support

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By RAY REYES

rreyes@tampatrib.com

Published: January 15, 2009

TAMPA - Pay $40,643.18 in child support and alimony or spend 90 days in a Hillsborough County jail.

That's the situation facing former Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Elijah Dukes, according to a court order signed Wednesday by Hillsborough Circuit Judge Mark R. Wolfe.

Dukes has until 5 p.m. on Jan. 23 to pay his former wife, NiShea Dukes, the child support and alimony he has owed her since October, the order states.

If he does not meet the deadline, he can either turn himself in at the jail on that date or a warrant would be issued for his arrest.

"We're pleased with the order," said Rick Escobar, NiShea Dukes' Tampa-based attorney. "It doesn't matter whether he's a football player, barber or mechanic, his status as a sports celebrity doesn't entitle him to an exception."

NiShea and Elijah Dukes have three children. Two are subject of the recent court order and Escobar said his law firm is working on getting child support for the third.
Elijah Dukes was ordered on April 9, 2008 to pay $3,227 a month in child support and $3,300 a month in alimony, according to the order.
NiShea Dukes received a check of $16,685 on April 11 but has not gotten the court-ordered monthly payments since then, except for a $200 check her former husband gave her in December, Wolfe states in the document.

Because the Major League Baseball player failed to make payments, he was found in contempt of court and the order was issued, Escobar said.

Elijah Dukes, 24, testified in court that his income for 2008 was $394,000, the order states. Grady Irvin Jr., Elijah Dukes' attorney, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Dukes, a graduate of Hillsborough High School, is on the roster of the Washington Nationals. He played 52 games for the Rays in 2007 and was optioned to the team's Triple-A minor league-affiliate in Durham, N.C. that year.

Reporter Roy Cummings contributed to this report. Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 259-7920.

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