Jeremy Hutchinson jailed by judge for contempt in child support case

Former Republican state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, the governor's nephew, landed in a jail cell today, a bit more than a month ahead of his scheduled sentencing in federal court on bribery and tax fraud charges.

UPDATE: The contempt finding is now on record. Judge Alice Gray held Hutchinson in contempt for failure to pay child support and ordered him jailed until he paid up. We've detailed this case both when the contempt citation was sought and this week, when Hutchinson pleaded poverty and offered other excuses for being in arrears on payments, plus interest, due under a 2011 divorce settlement with his ex-wife Stephanie to support their three children. He has since remarried.

The jail docket note indicates he must come up with $524,000 cash to gain his release. Stephanie Hutchinson has argued that he owes even more than that in $10,500 monthly support payments and interest, plus additional amounts of insurance and education costs that were his obligation under the divorce agreement.

Hutchinson had reopened the divorce case to argue that the property settlement agreement was legally defective and he also said he'd been unable to find work since being accused of multiple crimes and losing his law license. He volunteered to work as a Door Dash driver to make some money for payments and also said he would turn over the title to used vehicles to his ex. Stephanie Hutchinson's attorney, Jocelyn Stotts, sought the contempt citation. She said Hutchinson had been derelict despite receiving significant income through his former law firm and financial assistance from friends and family. She noted he'd paid for a swimming pool for his house, which is titled in his new wife's name. Hutchinson said in his latest court filing that family and friends had offered no help in his current situation.

Hutchinson was in court for the ruling this morning. The judge reportedly said the matter had been pending since March 2011 without a significant effort on his part. She also commented that she wasn't in the habit of accepting property (used cars) for money.

The judge ruled from the bench and Hutchinson was immediately taken into custody in a courthouse holding cell, then transferred later to the county jail.

Hutchinson has said he'd appeal the contempt finding and seek release. The capacity of the county jail can also work in favor of people jailed for contempt of court because priority is given to housing criminal offenders. UPDATE: A sheriff's spokesman said capacity was not an issue and Hutchinson would be held until he paid $524,000 or a judge ordered his release.

UPDATE: The contempt order is a scorcher. It rejects all Hutchinson's legal arguments and indicates he owes more than the $524,000 in unpaid child support. It says he's also in contempt for failure to cover his children's major medical coverage; has not disclosed, as required, any retirement benefits so they may be divided with his ex-wife; has failed to maintain a million-dollar life insurance policy, forcing his ex to pay the premiums; he's liable for roughly $100,000 in past and future college expenses for his children, and he'd failed to pay for summer camp and mission trips as promised. Despite several hearings over many months, the order said, Hutchinson never offered to pay what he thought he should be paying. The judge found he had the ability to pay considering his lifestyle, the money paid to him and other evidence. It makes clear that $524,000 won't satisfy his obligations and that he must pay an additional $105,897 immediately. The judge postponed a decision on attorney fees for Stephanie Hutchinson and consideration of a modification of the child support and alimony agreement.

Hutchinson is to be sentenced Feb. 3 for failing to report income for taxes on money he illegally spent from his campaign account and for taking bribes from an orthodontist to help him with legislation useful to his business. He also faces sentencing for taking bribes from Preferred Family Healthcare to help it in the legislature. He's pleaded guilty but no sentencing date has been set.

The post Jeremy Hutchinson jailed by judge for contempt in child support case UPDATE appeared first on Arkansas Times.