A Houston man is fighting a court order for over $65,000 in child support for a child DNA proves is not his.
He is already a father of three, and is raising two of his brother’s children. Last year, a deputy showed up at his door with court papers telling him the state of Texas thinks he has another child. Gabriel Cornejo denies knowing anything about this child, who is now 16, yet records indicate he at one time was having court ordered deductions from his paycheck. Cornego denies being aware of that.
“I never thought in my whole life I would have to defend myself or something that I am innocent of,” Cornejo said.
He, his wife and the ex-girlfriend he broke up with 16 years ago all agreed he should get a DNA test. He did. “The results came in,” Cornejo said. “I’m not the father.”
But that wasn’t the end of the case. Cornejo’s ex-girlfriend still wants the money and so demands the state of Texas.
According to Fox News:
Texas’ family code, chapter 161, states that even if one is not the biological father, they still owe support payments that accrued before the paternity test proves otherwise. In Cornejo’s case, that amounts to some $65,000.
Unless he and his lawyer can convince a judge to take a second look there’s nothing that can change the old court order and Cornejo will still owe all that money. If the court doesn’t reopen the case, he either pays or may go to jail. The case will be back in court in August. Gabriel Cornejo says whatever the outcome, he hopes for a state law change to prevent situations like the one he is now in.
(via: Conservative Post)
