Heading to prison, deadbeat dad begs for a deal

TAMPA — A man sentenced to federal prison for failing to pay thousands in child support had an offer for the court Wednesday: Let me out, Danny J. Collins said, and I'll pay the nearly $25,000 in support I owe.

Collins' boss was the source of the money. He said he had invested too much time and money training Collins, 43, who worked for him as a subcontractor doing electrical work. He agreed to pay the debt in exchange for Collins' one-year prison sentence being reduced to probation.

"There should be other means I can be punished (with), sir," Collins told the judge. "I'm begging for that now so I can have time with my son."

The mother of Collins' 14-year-old son, who lives with the child in Seminole and has been trying to get support from Collins for years, was in favor of the idea.

But U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday, who sentenced the Weedsport, N.Y., resident last month, said no way.

"I'm unaccustomed to having someone offer to pay money to anyone in exchange for a reduction in a sentence," Merryday said.

Collins met his son, Brandon Wilder, for the first time on Sept. 2, the day he showed up to be sentenced for failing to pay $29,478 in back child support with a $5,000 check as partial payment. The two are developing a relationship, Brandon said. He speaks to his dad daily by phone.

Brandon has cystic fibrosis, and his mom said she recently had to cancel a doctor's visit because she couldn't afford it.

"I work hard, and Brandon doesn't lack anything," his mom, Michelle Wilder, said after court. "I think Judge Merryday was the first person in 14 years to stand up for Brandon, and he's not going to back down from that."

Comments on this article

by Haven	Oct 8, 2008 8:00 PM
What a b_stard! All of a sudden he wants to spend time w/his son-but only if he thinks it'll help him stay out of prison! Men have been avoiding their responsibilities for years, & I for one am glad the judge took a harsh stand w/this deadbeat "dad"!

by Sean	Oct 6, 2008 1:34 PM
I'm so sick of hearing about dead beat dads-if the courts were fair and the child support requirements were reasonable there would be more men willing and able to pay. Too bad that it's a money issue as opposed to what's best for the children.

by another mom	Oct 5, 2008 10:41 AM
Is he going to pay ALL the moms of all the OTHER (4) children he owes money to? Maybe in September 2009, when he gets out of prison,he will have learned his lesson and pay up ! I doubt it. At least Brandon will get his. Thanks judge, you ROCK !

by mom	Oct 5, 2008 10:08 AM
I am happy to see that the judge did not let that loser guy out ! I wouldn't even call him a dad. He is probably gonna run and hide if he gets out anyway. He is a FELON that belongs in PRISON ! KUDOS to MERRYDAY !! maybe this will become a trend!

by wife #3	Oct 5, 2008 10:07 AM
This "dad" BROKE THE LAW. That is why he is in PRISON ! He skipped through many states and hid from his obligations for 14 years. He owes MANY women Child support. He is where he belongs!He would say and do anything to get what he wants.He is NO DAD!

by tim	Oct 4, 2008 9:30 AM
How much are the lawyers and the little wifely going to make off of this?

by Marie	Oct 4, 2008 9:30 AM
This guy is the worst. He fathered 3 children by 3 different women during 1 calendar year. Brandon has 2 other siblings the same age and this man has not paid for any of them. He owes a lot more than just the $29k to this one child.

by Amy	Oct 4, 2008 9:30 AM
About time they do something with these deadbeats

by michelle	Oct 3, 2008 7:25 PM
It's important to know that willfully failing to pay support should be a criminal offense, were not talking about someone who couldnt pay, but someone who refused to pay. there is a huge difference.

by michelle	Oct 3, 2008 7:25 PM
to John, wake up, there is no debtors prison. He had numerous chances to pay, multiple court orders and he ran. He made almost 100,000 per year, I know, I'm one of his exes. Did you not even read the first article? Pay your support!

by Liz	Oct 3, 2008 6:13 PM
In this case the only person that lose anything is the child. Putting the dad in jail will not solve the situation. allow him to pay and spend time with his father. The young man need his father in his life, since they are trying to know each other

by micki	Oct 3, 2008 2:33 PM
This isnt a regular child support case, more people need to push their cases that fit criteria to the federal level, the state will never do anything. it creates the deadbeat parent by allowing them get away with it. we all need to take a stand.

by denise	Oct 3, 2008 2:33 PM
if he is really worried about the childs illness, he could request his boss send the mother some money, unless he really was only trying to buy his way out of jail. lets see what he does.

by Peewee	Oct 3, 2008 2:33 PM
Chele- It's not the employer that garnish's the wages. It's the state that does it, so if he was being paid legally, then it is the states fault for not catching it. Second, why dont they let him out, have him work and pay & go to jail on weekends?

by beenonbothsides	Oct 3, 2008 2:33 PM
Hey Michelle one sentence you say your son doesnt lack anything cause you work hard. The next you say you had to cancel a dr appt cause you didnt have the money! I say there is more to the story!!

by mom	Oct 3, 2008 2:33 PM
to parent, how would you know? don't believe everything you read. get past being vindictive and selfish.

by Gilbert	Oct 2, 2008 3:58 PM
"He was begging the court", amazing how getting caught brings out the most merciful and sorrowful pleas. Honestly, he needs to stop begging, I believe thats what got him into this mess in the first place.

by sej	Oct 2, 2008 3:58 PM
how did this get to federal court? when i took my son's father to child suport court is was local state govn't i was dealing with and he went to p/c jail when he didn't pay his court ordered support. If this now a federal court offence?

by GR	Oct 2, 2008 3:57 PM
If the Child Support mechanism was enforced across the board, the jails would be full to capacity. My best friends ex-wife owes him $36K for thier 3 kids AND she works for the courts, were is the fairness?

by Jane	Oct 2, 2008 3:56 PM
I gave up years ago trying to collect over 15k from my deadbeat child's father. They took away his license, he pd $1000 to get it back. If I was on welfare,& I mean no offense to welfare recipients, the state would be on him because it effect the St

by Pete	Oct 2, 2008 3:55 PM
You people are living in a twilight zone. He didn't pay child support, so he faces jail. He offers to pay the child support, and you say he shouldn't 'buy his way out of jail'? Isn't that what the state and mother wanted in the first place??

by Sarah	Oct 2, 2008 3:30 PM
I think the judge did the right thing! There are to many dead-beat dads out there (my sons included!) They dont have any idea what its like to do what we mothers do everyday!

by wazzamattaU	Oct 2, 2008 3:25 PM
How utterly 'chauvinistic' this Feminist report is; to expect support from a 'man'!

by joetampa	Oct 2, 2008 2:42 PM
It still takes two! Why blame only the male?

by Dishonor	Oct 2, 2008 2:35 PM
Honor, when are MEN going to learn to get a job first, marry and then discuss the pros and cons of having children? They have just as much responsibility to keep THEIR pants on and use condoms!

by deme	Oct 2, 2008 2:18 PM
when I was a child, my mother received $25 for 4 children. 1st time sending anything in 10 years. Now that's a deadbeat sperm donor!!

by Carol	Oct 2, 2008 2:14 PM
Honor - men need to learn the same thing. Women don't get pregnant alone and are not solely responsible for providing birth control.

by Emme	Oct 2, 2008 2:07 PM
Hey Tony you're right.But most of us have a young and dumb time.Mandatory sterilization for those who don't take care of their kids.Give this guy a vasectomy then let him go.

by Katie	Oct 2, 2008 8:54 AM
Excuse me, but I really don't see how the interests of the child are met by sending Dad to prison instead of letting him pay. What does the kid get out of having him in jail, where he'll be unable to pay anything? This is just stupid vengeance.

by Katie	Oct 2, 2008 8:54 AM
Best Solution: The State takes power-of-attorney for the child. The state then pays the support to Mom, and if Dad misses his payment to the State, it goes after him the way only the State can, while maintaining the child support for the kid. Solved.

by Tom	Oct 2, 2008 8:54 AM
Hooray for the judge. This case can send a message to other deadbeat dads to pay up soon or face the consequences!

by pj	Oct 2, 2008 8:54 AM
good work judge but what the child im sure in this economic times that the mother could us the money and it is about the kid right even if you would allowed the gut to work and return to jail everynight something could have been done.

by ht	Oct 2, 2008 8:53 AM
WHat a good judge.Why dont they arrest my ex for the same thing.

by Joe	Oct 2, 2008 8:53 AM
IT IS NICE THAT JUDGE MERRYDAY CARES. TALK IS CHEAP AND MEDICAL TREATMENT COST MONEY. TAG THE CHEAP SON OF A GUN AND MAKE HIM PAY HIS WAY AND NOT THE TAX PAYER WHO IS FOOTING HIS STAY IN JAIL. AND WITH INTREST OFCOURSE.

by David	Oct 2, 2008 8:53 AM
This judge is doing wrong by keeping him in jail. His job is to look after the childs interests. The ofer was made and the x-wife agree'd to it. she needs the money.putting him in jail means she won't get the money. Stupid Judge!!