WWBT) –
A Colonial Heights man will no longer have to pay child support for a child that biologically isn’t his and the judge worked out a unique deal for the $23,000 in back child support he currently owes.
Dwayne Parsons is off the hook for a child DNA tests show he didn’t father. However, since Parsons signed the birth certificate, the judge is holding Parsons responsible for the promise he made 13 years ago.
In court, the judge explained that there are “certain aspects of the law that seems grossly unfair.”
“Unfortunately the law is the law, my message to everybody is if you’re unsure, about you being the father of the child, do not sign that birth certificate – that’s a well lesson learned,” said Parsons.
Parsons said the judge seemed sympathetic. He ruled Parsons won’t have to pay nearly $200 a month in child support – instead, Parsons will pay just $1 a month, interest free.
“It didn’t go exactly all the way I wanted to go, but I’m satisfied with the decision,” said Parsons.
Much to his surprise, the mother of the child, Janitha Saunders was present in court.
We tried getting her side of the story:
“I’m good, I’m good, I take care of mine, I’m good, I just took care of her for 13 years I don’t need anyone to take care of her, I’m good,” said Saunders.
Saunders didn’t have to say a word in court, but Parsons’ fiancé, Natonya Green, took the stand and told the judge Parsons did his best to make past payments.
“If you made a mistake, you made a mistake, but don’t carry that lie throughout all these years, because you’re not only messing up other people’s lives, but what about that child, has anybody thought about how she feels about it,” said Green.
Parsons says he still hopes to get back the thousands of dollars he paid in child support. He said he plans on taking the child’s mother to court.
At $1 a month, it would take about 1,917 years for Parsons to pay his debts.
