Database helps find deadbeats

Pasco County Sheriff Bob White says his online list of fugitive deadbeat parents is starting to pay off, even if the mothers and fathers aren't.

White asked his agency's computer programmers to create the searchable database after reports by News Channel 8 chronicled how fugitive deadbeat dad David Earley lived under the radar of law enforcement in New Port Richey for a year and a half.

Pinellas County warrants had been issued for his arrest after he failed to make good on a child support debt that now amounts to about $385,000.

"It did get our attention," White said, "and it was pretty bad."

The Pasco sheriff's Web site now lists nearly 400 deadbeat parents on any given day, including more than 60 mothers who are wanted by the law for falling far enough behind on their payments to merit a criminal arrest.

Florida law essentially makes it a felony when parents hit $5,000 in overdue child support, provided they have an ability to pay.

White said he was disgusted that Earley bragged to a reporter he would quickly go free even if deputies caught up with him.

He had done it before. The sheriff calls it "catch and release."

But Earley was treated differently by the justice system once Pasco deputies found and arrested him.

A judge last month sentenced Earley to three years in prison as a "general deterrent" and a lesson to deadbeat parents.

White said he's not trying to punish parents but he thinks holding them financially accountable will help children.

"By impacting the deadbeat dad issue I think we save children, because this has a ripple effect both up and down."

White said children who aren't supported by their parents are more likely to suffer emotional troubles that can lead to substance abuse, criminal behavior and another cycle of deadbeat parenting.

"It's a benefit to society, it's a benefit to the taxpayer that we hold these people accountable because the taxpayer in the end is going to have to foot the bill," White said.

To review the list of deadbeat parents, visit www.pascosheriff.com, and click "Child support warrants" in the left column.

In the meantime, locating deadbeat parents remains a challenge - even with their names, faces and last known address now appearing online.

When a reporter knocked on the door at the address of child-support fugitive Jessica Horrigan, her grandmother said Horrigan no longer lives there.

Where does she live?

"I have no idea," said the grandmother, Sandy Tambasco. "I haven't seen her in a while."

Tambasco said her granddaughter's life has been in a tailspin since a car accident claimed the life of Horrigan's 4-year-old daughter eight years ago.

Tambasco said she knew her granddaughter is wanted by the law. Horrigan has two children, Tambasco said, and their father is trying to collect from her.

Tambasco added, "I'm gonna try to get her to fix this up."

Now White is turning his attention to the hundreds of other parents in Pasco who haven't been held accountable. He said the Web site has resulted in several arrests already.

"We had one lady call us as a result of viewing a photo on the Web site," White said. "She called us and gave us the location of a deadbeat dad and we picked him up."