Washington Man Pleads Guilty to Failure to Pay Legal Child Support

US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Benjamin J. Boyle, age 36, of Olympia, Washington, appeared before Chief US District Judge Karen E. Schreier on February 22, 2012, and pled guilty to an indictment that charged him with Failure to Pay Legal Child Support. The maximum penalty upon conviction is two years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and child support restitution amount owing at the time of sentencing.

Benjamin J. Boyle was ordered by the Third Judicial Circuit Court, Codington County, South Dakota, to pay $571 per month in support for his minor children commencing July 1, 2007. Said support was amended to $1,075 per month commencing March 1, 2008. The support was amended again to $500 per month commencing January 1, 2010. At the time of indictment, he had not made a child support payment since November 2010, and the total arrearage amount owed to the custodial parent was $30,441.58.

In addition, Boyle was ordered by the Third Judicial Circuit Court, Codington County, to pay a second custodial parent $389 per month for his minor child, commencing July 31, 2008. At the time of indictment, the total arrearage amount owed to the second custodial parent was $5,620.88.

The investigation was conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Thomas J. Wright.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for May 11, 2012. The defendant was released on bond pending sentencing .