Child support sweep is ongoing

Seven arrested at home and two turn themselves in at Sheriff’s Office Newton — Early in the morning of Tuesday, July 19, Sussex County Sheriff’s Officers, with arrest warrants issued by a Superior Court in New Jersey, arrested seven people who have failed to comply with court-ordered child support payments. Two other people surrendered themselves directly to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office. All those arrested in the sweep will be processed and lodged in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility, until they pay the money they owe. If they are unable to make full payment, they will be scheduled for a court appearance before a Superior Court judge, at which time the judge will make individualized determinations about the amount of child support that must be paid. The statewide sweep will continue through today, Thursday, July 21. The names, hometowns and amounts owed by each person arrested will be released after the sweep ends. Sussex County Sheriff Michael Strada asks anyone with information about people who owe child support to contact the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Crime Stoppers toll-free tip line at 888-973-CRIME. Tips can also be submitted online through the Sheriff’s Office Web site at www.sussexcountysheriff.com. Calls can be made 24 hours a day and they are always kept confidential. In some cases, cash awards may be available to those who provide leads that result in arrests. Additionally, people who owe child support and think there may be a warrant out for their own arrest, can turn themselves in to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office at 39 High Street in Newton or call 973-579-0888. The New Jersey Statewide Non-Support Warrant Sweep is sponsored by the Sheriff’s Association of New Jersey and includes the participation of all 21 New Jersey Sheriff’s Offices. It is conducted in full cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Family Development, the Office of Child Support Services and the Probation Divisions of each respective county.