Dodging Child Support

Judge Mathis hears a child support case where the defendant owes over $17,000, with disputes over paternity, abuse, and visitation rights.

Ask about this video. Answers come from its transcript only — with the timestamp, so you can check them.

Generated from the transcript and can be wrong — check the timestamp.

Key Takeaways

Child support obligations remain regardless of personal disputes or relocation.
DNA testing confirmed paternity, solidifying the defendant's financial responsibility.
Mutual abuse complicates the relationship but does not negate child support duties.
Visitation rights and emotional distress claims are secondary to child support enforcement.
The court prioritizes the children's welfare and financial support over parental conflicts.

What the video covers

Erica Hoyd sued Tramel Wright for overdue child support totaling over $17,000 for their two children.
Erica began dating Tramel at age 15 but lied about being 18; paternity was confirmed by DNA tests for both children.
Tramel claims Erica was deceptive and fears he could have faced statutory rape charges due to her age.
Erica alleges a toxic relationship with physical abuse from Tramel and that she fled the state with the children in 2006 for their safety.
Tramel countersues for emotional distress, claiming he has not seen his children in 9 years.
The court discusses child support arrears, visitation denial, and the defendant's refusal to pay due to Erica leaving the state.
Judge Mathis orders partial payments and warns Tramel he must pay or face jail time.
Both parties acknowledge mutual physical abuse during the relationship.
Erica moved to a shelter for abused women and sought a better life for her children.
The judge emphasizes the importance of financial responsibility despite personal disputes.

Chapters

Why is Tramel Wright behind on child support payments?

Tramel Wright claims he should not pay because Erica left the state without notifying him, but the court ruled that this is not a valid defense and he must pay the arrears.

Were the children confirmed to be Tramel Wright's biological children?

Yes, DNA tests for both children confirmed that Tramel Wright is their biological father.

What reasons did Erica Hoyd give for leaving the state with the children?

Erica stated she left due to a toxic and abusive relationship, including physical abuse, and moved to a shelter to protect herself and her children.

Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown

Speaker A

Plaintiff Erica Hoyd says when she started dating the defendant, she was only 15. But she lied and told him she was 18. Erica claims they had two children, but the defendant requested a DNA test for both of them. And both tests proved he was their biological father. She's suing because the defendant is over $17,000 behind in child support.

Speaker A

Defendant Tramel Wright says from the start, Erica was deceptive. And he could have done serious jail time for statutory rape because she lied about her age. Tramel claims 9 years ago, Erica fled the state with his kids and he hasn't seen them since. So he's counter-suing for emotional distress. Start with you. Thank you, Your Honor. Um, I met Mr.

Speaker A

Wright back in 2001. I was 15 years old. It was shortly after the murder of my father, so it was a very traumatic time in my life. Um, I met Mr. Wright in a teen nightclub at that time. I lied to

Speaker A

Mr. Wright and told him I was 18, which in fact I was only 15.

Speaker A

Mhm. Um, after about 4 months of knowing Mr. Wright, I finally told him the truth. At that point in time, Mr. Wright told me that it didn't matter because he was in love at that point in time.

Speaker A

Um, during the course of our relation 4-year relationship, excuse me, we've had have we have had, excuse me, sir, Your Honor, um two children. Um, the first one was had in uh 2002, which at that time I was 16 years old.

Speaker A

Were you all living in the same household with the children? Oh, yes, sir, off and on. I stayed with some of his family members during the course of the relationship, yes, sir.

Speaker A

So you had the second child? Yes, in 2004. Um, I started receiving child support in 2005 um for the first child. We had to do a DNA uh for the second child in October of 2005.

Speaker A

Uh, during the course of the relationship, it was very toxic. There was fighting, arguing, um stealing, a number of things, your honor.

Speaker A

We officially split in 2005, towards the end of November. In 2006 is when we did our second we received the DNA for our second child, which of course he was the father.

Speaker A

At that point they ordered a second child support order of $250 a month, $127 for each child.

Speaker A

Okay, before you get further into the child support you're suing him about, let me allow him to give some background sir.

Speaker A

From day one Erica Hoyt was very deceptive and um deceiving. Uh, she was 15 years old. She lied about her age to me. Um, it wasn't till a year after that when she actually told me how old she really was. My grandmother

Speaker A

got custody of Erica Hoyt due to the fact of her father being murdered and her mother didn't have a healthy home environment for her to live. So Erica Hoyt was amended or emancipated to my grandmother if that's the correct word.

Speaker A

Mhm. Um, I could have went to jail for 40 years for the lie that she told me to begin with.

Speaker A

40? Well, it was statutory rape. 40 years in your state? Well, it was as far as I know it was 40 years yeah.

Speaker A

So uh Okay, counselor. Go ahead, well then. That's right, your honor. That's right. What's right?

Speaker A

Uh the Mr. Right believes that he knows everything. I was never put into his grandmother's custody.

Speaker A

years. Go ahead. She took my kids and I haven't seen them for 9 years.

Speaker A

When was that? Um, she left in August of 2006. August of 2006, I called her for the weekend like I usually do to get visitation to see my kids and pick them up. Erica Hoyt did not return any call or text.

Speaker A

No, is that your counter claim? For emotional distress, Is that what that's for? The testimony you're making about denying you opportunity to see your kids.

Speaker A

You're not sure? All right, let's hear about the child support. Um Just I'm sorry to go back and kind of touch on what he touched on. Um his his I've always been on my own sir since I was 15 years old. Yes, my mother had

Speaker A

some drug issues. My father had passed away. I've been working since I was 13.

Speaker A

I've always been on my own. Nobody's ever had custody of me other than my parents, Your Honor. Um as far as the children or for the second child, Mr.

Speaker A

Wright had another woman pregnant at the same time and she was also having a boy which would our second child would have been a boy as well, Your Honor. He was doing dirt or was seeing someone else.

Speaker A

It was never a matter of me being faithful to Mr. Wright. Um like he stated, yes sir, that is correct. I moved in 2006 because I wanted to give my children a better life. Towards the course of our

Speaker A

relationship, Mr. Wright and I have fought. He also slapped me in front of my sister and in front of the children several times. We fought It was a very toxic any of those times?

Speaker A

I I've I've I've never I've At that point in my life, sir, it I was young and I just kind of endured it and I Several times in front of the kids with all of that? It's kind why I left in 2006. I had to get myself

Speaker A

together and when I was done and was ready to be through with the situation, I moved on to give my children a better life. I had no where else to go, sir. I was homeless. He wasn't helping my

Speaker A

situation. moved uh to get out of that situation. All right. I had a nervous breakdown prior to me leaving and I had to go. Yes, sir. I left a whole home. I went to the Sojourner the Sojourner Truth House. Um

Speaker A

I I I lost everything, Your Honor, and in order to save myself and to save my kids, I had to go.

Speaker A

And that's why you denied And Mr. Wright knew about that. I took my kids to see his family before I left and he didn't show up to see his kid.

Speaker A

Sir, you want to say anything about this? Erica Hoyt left the state without notifying me or notifying the court like she should have.

Speaker A

Were you being abusive, physically abusive toward her? We both were physically abusive toward each other.

Speaker A

that's a yes. All right. Did you know she went and stayed in a shelter?

Speaker A

No. For abused women. She didn't No, I did not. Okay. And he also did know that his family members seen the kids prior to us leaving.

Speaker A

Mhm. No, I did not. They didn't see him. So, you're way out of the loop.

Speaker A

Exactly, you're right. That is so very true. if you don't know anything about mama, you don't know anything about them. All right.

Speaker A

Mr. Wright, just to give you They live with mama, didn't they? She lived with me and my family.

Speaker A

Right. So, you really should have known what was happening with her. If I was there, yes, you're right.

Speaker A

Yeah. What Yes, you ran from you, she said. She said she ran from you cuz you were whooping on her. She had to go to an abuse shelter.

Speaker A

Let's get to this child support. How about that? Yeah, yeah, let's see that. Yes sir.

Speaker A

LET'S SEE THAT. WHAT DO YOU OWE? WHAT DO YOU OWE? YES SIR. LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT. WHAT DO YOU OWE?

Speaker A

YES, SIR. HE HASN'T SEEN HIS kids in 9 years. He owes $7,954.69. 17,000. What do you have to SAY ABOUT THAT?

Speaker A

I don't feel that I should pay. Why don't you? Due to the fact that she left the state without letting me know anything.

Speaker A

That's not a defense. Did you tell child support court that? Yes, I did. And what did they say? They gave you that bill, didn't they? They said pay it.

Speaker A

I have documentation showing what say you don't have to pay? DID THEY SAY YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY?

Speaker A

SAID I DID NOT SAY THAT. HE SAID YOU DID SAY YOU DON'T FEEL YOU HAVE TO PAY. YOU JUST SAID IT. YOU SAID I DON'T FEEL I HAVE to pay because YOU LEFT THE STATE. I SAID DID YOU TELL

Speaker A

CHILD SUPPORT THAT? AND YOU SAID YES. AND WHAT DID THEY TELL YOU? I still need to pay.

Speaker A

Thank you, or you go on to jail. And I'm telling you the same thing. Ma'am, I'm going to ask that they arrange a partial payment for you and credit it to his child support, but not release him from

Speaker A

child support cuz he needs to go to jail. Mr. Matthews, Mr. Matthews, he sent me HE SENT ME PAPERWORK.

Speaker A

HE SENT ME PAPERWORK BACK IN 2012 where he was asking me to cancel out all arrearages.

Speaker A

At that time, because I wouldn't work with him, Mr. Rice stated to me seven excuse me, three days before Mother's Day, he wasn't going to pay me anything.

Speaker A

All right, good deal. All right, I don't want to hear anymore. And sir, I asked you earlier was that part of your emotional distress when you were talking a

Speaker A

At that time, because I wouldn't work with him, Mr. Rice stated to me seven excuse me, three days before Mother's Day, he wasn't going to pay me anything.

Speaker A

All right, good deal. All right, I don't want to hear anymore. And sir, I asked you earlier was that part of your emotional distress when you were talking about her keeping you from the kids and you just looked at me. And

Speaker A

I said, "Oh, I guess not." So, once again, I guess not. Your claim is dismissed. JUDGMENT FOR THE PLAINTIFF.

Speaker A

STEP UP. BE A MAN. PAY THAT MONEY. PAY THAT MONEY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY DON'T NEED NOTHING. WE DON'T NEED YOUR MONEY.

Speaker A

HAVE A NICE LIFE. MY KIDS WON'T STOP. YOU HAVE A NICE LIFE. THEY WON'T STOP. They don't need anything. They're not in the need for anything. I don't need your money.

Speaker A

When it's all said and done, they want everything. So, why don't you not going to step up AND SPEND THE TIME? PAY THE FINE.

Speaker A

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE LEAST you can do there is be there financially for them because they need you in some type of way. And when it's all said and done, I'm not keeping your kids from you. They're here and I want

Speaker A

you to see them if you'd like to. You want to say hi to your dad?

Speaker A

Hello buddy. Yeah buddy. You okay? Yeah. Yeah? Mhm. Your kids are hurting. They're hurting.

Speaker A

They watch you on Facebook with your other kids every day. I understand that. But the only thing I want to ask you is hold on, listen. The communication should have started the day you moved away.

Speaker A

Sharmel, I've been communicating with you. And at the end of the day, you don't have to communicate with me because you can talk to your children.

Speaker A

There you go. That's perfectly fine. You go ahead. Mhm.

Topics:child supportJudge MathisDNA paternity teststatutory rapechild custodyemotional distressdomestic abusevisitation rightsarrearsfamily court

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