Nebraska Man Pleads Guilty to Failure to Pay Legal Child Support

US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Charles J. Spahn, age 37, of Gering, Nebraska, appeared before Chief US District Judge Karen E. Schreier on April 2, 2012, and pled guilty to 2 counts of a 5-count indictment that charged him with Failure to Pay Legal Child Support. The maximum penalty for each count upon conviction is two years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and child support restitution owing on all five counts at the time of sentencing.

Over a span of nine years, five child support orders were filed against Charles J. Spahn to pay child support to five separate custodial mothers to support a total of seven children. At the time of indictment, Spahn owed over $41,000 in past due child support. In three of the cases, he had not made a payment since April 2009; in another case, he hadn't paid since January of 2008; and in the fifth case, he had never made a payment toward his support obligation.

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 scheduled for June 25, 2012. The defendant was detained pending sentencing.