I was working midnights at a local factory, which really worked great when it came to getting time with my children. I had parenting time (in accord with the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines) every other weekend, and on Wednesday evenings (or so I thought). While reading this important court document later on, I found out that I was also entitled to additional parenting time when the custodial parent was in need of child care (babysitter, etc.).

My gross weekly pay was just over $400.00. I had life, vision, dental, and medical insurance on my three children and myself for $29.00 a week. My taxes were being paid. I had child support garnished from my wages, this way I knew it was paid on time every week. And, as long as I have income, my children’s mother could not hold me responsible for any support she didn’t receive. As we all know, wage garnishments are the responsibility of one’s employer and the garnishing party. The local prosecutors really seem to like that (ha, ha). To put it short and simple, save all check stubs from your payroll checks. These are your proof of payment, and the prosecutor can’t touch you. I’ve been through it a couple of times.

I have recently become unemployed. On November 28, 2007, while driving to work, I was pulled over by local police. It was your basic trap. There were two city officers and one county officer that stopped me. I was not speeding, and I was wearing my seat belt. At the time, the arresting officer, refused to tell me why he had stopped me. He forcefully stated “Give me your license and we’ll find out!” On the ticket he wrote “No or improper tail lights or license plate light”. The catch, is that all of my lights worked then, and still work now. I only found this out after I was bonded out of jail the following Monday evening.

The officer arrested me for a bench warrant for a failure to appear in city court on February 22, 2007. I would be able to understand this, but my court date was for the day before, on which court was closed due to a winter storm. Don’t ask me why I wasn’t informed by mail of a new court date. I simply do not know. But, I am currently awaiting a court hearing to take care of that situation. Did I mention that I also lost my job because the officer refused to let me call off of work before arresting me. The shift supervisor then listed me as “no call, no show” and I was pointed out!

Thanks to the local police department, I can no longer financially provide for my children. I can’t pay support, I can’t provide insurance, I can’t even afford Christmas for them. Did I mention that my oldest has a surgery scheduled for December 13, 2007. That’s tomorrow, and I’m still wondering what’s going to happen there.

So yeah, I think I’m pretty screwed. All thanks to the local, elected officials.