A Kentucky man, wanted for over ten years for failing to pay child support, was finally apprehended as he disembarked from a cruise ship in Miami. Dominic Weaver, who owes authorities more than $100,000, was taken by Miami police and brought back to Louisville, Kentucky, where he now faces serious legal repercussions.
According to multiple reports, including those from WDRB and the New York Post, Weaver had been evading his child support obligations since 2019, when he was first sentenced to five years probation for flagrant non-support. Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell confirmed Weaver’s arrest, stating, "I don’t know when he left, but he fled the jurisdiction, and from the date of his sentence until today, he’s not paid one cent of child support." This evasive behavior has left Weaver with outstanding child support arrears estimated to be between $114,000 and $120,000.
The capture of Weaver was not straightforward. Detectives from the Jefferson County child support division flew to Miami to bring him back to Kentucky. Shortly after his arrival, he was processed at Louisville Metro Corrections, where he now faces charges including flagrant non-support and probation violation stemming from previous felony offenses.
Prior to his arrest, Weaver was listed among individuals delinquent on their child support payments by the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office, appearing on lists published by the county in 2019 and 2021. During those years, his debt had reportedly increased from over $99,000 to the current estimates. According to O'Connell, Weaver has four child support cases against him, two of which he faces potential felony charges for again. The attorney expressed outrage at the length of time Weaver had managed to evade responsibility, describing the situation as "egregious." He noted, "I think it's somewhere between $114,000 and $120,000. We can’t have people not paying child support for years and then think it's acceptable."
The road to reparation for Weaver has been riddled with attempts from authorities to compel him to face his responsibilities. O’Connell explained they’ve sought alternative methods to encourage payment, including listing delinquent parents’ names publicly. Their goal is to help non-custodial parents find work and regain financial stability—although sometimes leading to jail time seems unavoidable. “Our office does everything we can to work with people,” he stated, “I mean everything we can, you know, to the extent of even helping find employment and do things like those.”
Weaver's circumstances suggest the unique challenges faced by parents who refuse to take financial responsibility for their children. O'Connell plans to request the court impose more severe penalties this time, aiming to revoke Weaver's probation and sentence him to four years of imprisonment. "This cannot go on without consequences," he stressed. Weaver’s next court appearance is set for January 6, 2025, where the full weight of the law could finally catch up to the fugitive father.
The case puts the spotlight back on the child support system and the difficulties faced by custodial parents relying on financial support from non-custodial parents. The Jefferson County Attorney's Office has made it clear: they will continue their efforts to enforce child support obligations vigorously. While they work on such challenging cases, O'Connell reflects on his office's mission, saying, "Our job is to make sure children receive the support they are owed, and we will not stop pursuing those who fail to uphold these obligations."
Weaver’s story serves as both a cautionary tale and a call to action, illustrating the potential consequences of neglecting parental duties. For the sake of children, it emphasizes the importance of upholding legal obligations and ensuring they are not robbed of their rightful support.
