Massachusetts' worst deadbeat dads

deadbeat

When it comes to deadbeat dads, these guys are the poster boys — literally. Massachusetts today released its annual Top 10 poster of dads who’ve shrugged off their financial obligations by refusing to provide support to their children. A man with Methuen ties (pictured above) made number two on the list. Eric Grenier has a 13-year-old child and was ordered to pay $136 a week in child support to the child’s mother. He’s wracked up a $188,733 tab so far.

Is the state serious about getting these guys? You betcha — as a Sharon man who police caught learned when he was ordered to serve two years in prison after failing to pay $100,000 in child support.

Child support is a touchy subject — especially for fathers groups. Massachusetts enacted new support guidelines this year, which several groups, including the group Fathers & Families, said created a “castle and hove” disparity between custodial and non-custodial parents’ homes. On the other side, you’ve got situations of single parents struggling to squeeze by while the other parent skates off without any financial or parental responsibility for the life they helped create. Are the guidelines fair? Click on the link below and check them out for yourself. Regardless of the formulas, however, the “bad dad” list usually culls the worst of the worst — dad’s who’ve just checked out of any responsibility whatsoever. Eagle-Tribune staff are working on a story of our Methuen dad. Look for that tomorrow. In the mean time:

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  • Mother Mary

    My granddaughter was murdered by her step-dad and his picture was never that big. Who did this guy murder? Is this the amount of child support he owes? It is my understanding this guy has 5 kids? How much does he pay for the other kids? Why did Mass wait this long to bring him to justice? Mass seems proud of themselves to remove a fahter from his children’s live because he is poor and can’t pay what they require?

    Why don’t you give him a life sentence? We have no rehab for this guy but we do have rehab for the molesters who molest our children!! Oh by the way these molesters have rights, lets not talk bad about them!!

    WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS SYSTEM WHERE PLEASURE IS TAKEN TO TAKE A FATHER DOWN?

    THIS QUESTION for the Eagle Tribune who is not clear on what they type!!

    Are the charges of assault on Grenier Alledged or was he found guilty?

    • Tylerfrank

      what was her name i may have known her

  • Mother Mary

    My granddaughter was murdered by her step-dad and his picture was never that big. Who did this guy murder? Is this the amount of child support he owes? It is my understanding this guy has 5 kids? How much does he pay for the other kids? Why did Mass wait this long to bring him to justice? Mass seems proud of themselves to remove a fahter from his children's live because he is poor and can't pay what they require?

    Why don't you give him a life sentence? We have no rehab for this guy but we do have rehab for the molesters who molest our children!! Oh by the way these molesters have rights, lets not talk bad about them!!

    WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS SYSTEM WHERE PLEASURE IS TAKEN TO TAKE A FATHER DOWN?

    THIS QUESTION for the Eagle Tribune who is not clear on what they type!!

    Are the charges of assault on Grenier Alledged or was he found guilty?

  • http://www.deadbeatwatch.com deadbeat
  • http://www.deadbeatwatch.com deadbeat
  • llyn

    Interesting article mentioning even John Gray (Mars Venus Fame) refused to honor a wage assignment for his CEO.

    (eWebWire.com) January 29, 2010 — WORLD WIDE WEB, January 29, 2010 (FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE) — Nevada ranks 54th in its rate of child support collection. They have consistently ranked near the bottom of the nation in payment collections. To say their child support enforcement system is broken is not accurate. It’s beyond abysmal. Nevada also hugged the bottom of state rankings in establishing paternity for children in support cases, obtaining court orders for support payments and running cost-effective collections and enforcement programs.

    Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, called Nevada’s national standings for child support collection “pathetic.” Children in the state are not receiving the money they are entitled to by court order, Buckley said, which means they may be deprived of things as basic as medical care and shelter. “It is frustrating for all the custodial parents, we are worse than Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.”
    One mother has spoken out claiming that Nevada ranks so low because they only target African- Americans and Latinos. Ms Collins a single mom of three feels many of these fathers are out of work and unable to pay so any enforcement measures are useless. In her case the father of her three children is a white male, gainfully employed in an Executive Position, owns a sprawling 2 acre ranch in Las Vegas and drives a Bentley. In spite of this Ms. Collins claims that the Nevada District Attorney has made little effort to collect not only the current child support but the $22,794.12 in arrears the father of her children owes. Ms Collins further added that Nevada does not pursue white offenders and goes out of their way to keep white deadbeat dads out of jail.

    Nevada has a number of tools to collect child support arrears. Bank accounts can be levied to collect past due support, wages can be garnished, property can be levied even a notice of the delinquency could be filed with the IRS who would divert any income tax refund to the DA to apply to the debt. Nevada can also suspend a driver’s license due to unpaid child support or even suspend an occupational license if a parent owes child support.
    In spite of this Ms Collins claims none of these enforcement methods are used to collect child support for her children. “I have a court ordered wage assignment but it’s not worth the paper it’s written on.” The father of her three children Richard Bernstein is the CEO and President of Mars Venus Coaching. Ms Collins added that although Mr. Bernstein testified in a Los Angeles court that the company is owned by John Gray the world famous author of “Men are from Mars Women are from Venus” the DA refuses to take any action against Mr. Gray for failing to honor a court ordered wage assignment. Ms. Collins believes Nevada has done nothing because Mr. Bernstein along with Mr. Gray are both white.

    Ms Collins pointed out that the Nevada DA went after Dr. Conrad Murray (Michael Jackson’s personal physician) with a vengeance claiming that he’d shown a pattern of failing to abide by child support orders. At the time Dr. Murray owed just $13,311.47 for missed child support payments. Ms Collins believes if Dr. Murray was white it would be no different from the father of her children and further stated “They only pursued him because he is African American. I am owed over $22,000.00 in back child support, Mr. Bernstein was previously convicted in a Los Angeles court for failing to pay child support that definitely shows a pattern but because he is white it puts him above the law in Nevada. Ms Collins also added my children deserve better they are entitled to the same rights as everyone else regardless of the color of their skin. If their father worked for a company owned by a minority the DA would definitely pursue that company to make sure that they honored a wage assignment for child support.
    Ms Collins conveyed that she provided the Nevada District Attorney with copies of press releases for Mars Venus Coaching posted all over the internet listing Mr. Bernstein’s name as being responsible for selling franchises in China, Poland, Nevada and Arizona in just six weeks. In spite of this Ms Collins said her children failed to receive a penny in court ordered child support during that period.

    This may very well be the reason Nevada consistently ranks near the bottom of the nation in payment collection. Last year the state collected about 52 percent of the payments owed. The national average is about 61 percent. A Nevada state task force is looking at ways to improve the collection of delinquent child support payments after a legislative audit found deficiencies. A good start might be looking into why Nevada is not pursuing white deadbeat parents that are gainfully employed, have assets and show a pattern of failing to pay support after being convicted.

  • llyn

    Interesting article mentioning even John Gray (Mars Venus Fame) refused to honor a wage assignment for his CEO.

    (eWebWire.com) January 29, 2010 — WORLD WIDE WEB, January 29, 2010 (FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE) — Nevada ranks 54th in its rate of child support collection. They have consistently ranked near the bottom of the nation in payment collections. To say their child support enforcement system is broken is not accurate. It’s beyond abysmal. Nevada also hugged the bottom of state rankings in establishing paternity for children in support cases, obtaining court orders for support payments and running cost-effective collections and enforcement programs.

    Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, called Nevada’s national standings for child support collection “pathetic.” Children in the state are not receiving the money they are entitled to by court order, Buckley said, which means they may be deprived of things as basic as medical care and shelter. “It is frustrating for all the custodial parents, we are worse than Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.”
    One mother has spoken out claiming that Nevada ranks so low because they only target African- Americans and Latinos. Ms Collins a single mom of three feels many of these fathers are out of work and unable to pay so any enforcement measures are useless. In her case the father of her three children is a white male, gainfully employed in an Executive Position, owns a sprawling 2 acre ranch in Las Vegas and drives a Bentley. In spite of this Ms. Collins claims that the Nevada District Attorney has made little effort to collect not only the current child support but the $22,794.12 in arrears the father of her children owes. Ms Collins further added that Nevada does not pursue white offenders and goes out of their way to keep white deadbeat dads out of jail.

    Nevada has a number of tools to collect child support arrears. Bank accounts can be levied to collect past due support, wages can be garnished, property can be levied even a notice of the delinquency could be filed with the IRS who would divert any income tax refund to the DA to apply to the debt. Nevada can also suspend a driver’s license due to unpaid child support or even suspend an occupational license if a parent owes child support.
    In spite of this Ms Collins claims none of these enforcement methods are used to collect child support for her children. “I have a court ordered wage assignment but it’s not worth the paper it’s written on.” The father of her three children Richard Bernstein is the CEO and President of Mars Venus Coaching. Ms Collins added that although Mr. Bernstein testified in a Los Angeles court that the company is owned by John Gray the world famous author of “Men are from Mars Women are from Venus” the DA refuses to take any action against Mr. Gray for failing to honor a court ordered wage assignment. Ms. Collins believes Nevada has done nothing because Mr. Bernstein along with Mr. Gray are both white.

    Ms Collins pointed out that the Nevada DA went after Dr. Conrad Murray (Michael Jackson's personal physician) with a vengeance claiming that he’d shown a pattern of failing to abide by child support orders. At the time Dr. Murray owed just $13,311.47 for missed child support payments. Ms Collins believes if Dr. Murray was white it would be no different from the father of her children and further stated “They only pursued him because he is African American. I am owed over $22,000.00 in back child support, Mr. Bernstein was previously convicted in a Los Angeles court for failing to pay child support that definitely shows a pattern but because he is white it puts him above the law in Nevada. Ms Collins also added my children deserve better they are entitled to the same rights as everyone else regardless of the color of their skin. If their father worked for a company owned by a minority the DA would definitely pursue that company to make sure that they honored a wage assignment for child support.
    Ms Collins conveyed that she provided the Nevada District Attorney with copies of press releases for Mars Venus Coaching posted all over the internet listing Mr. Bernstein’s name as being responsible for selling franchises in China, Poland, Nevada and Arizona in just six weeks. In spite of this Ms Collins said her children failed to receive a penny in court ordered child support during that period.

    This may very well be the reason Nevada consistently ranks near the bottom of the nation in payment collection. Last year the state collected about 52 percent of the payments owed. The national average is about 61 percent. A Nevada state task force is looking at ways to improve the collection of delinquent child support payments after a legislative audit found deficiencies. A good start might be looking into why Nevada is not pursuing white deadbeat parents that are gainfully employed, have assets and show a pattern of failing to pay support after being convicted.

  • Ch1

    For fuk sakes, it really takes that much to bring up a child? Focus on what’s substantial if your goal is to develop a healthy child’s life, other than that it’s plainly Fraud Support.

    • http://www.worcesterwired.com Noah R. Bombard

      Not sure I understand what you’re saying. Are you saying child support isn’t that much and these guys should pay up or that the courts are asking too much of them? Or maybe I’m misreading your post altogether.

  • Ch1

    For fuk sakes, it really takes that much to bring up a child? Focus on what’s substantial if your goal is to develop a healthy child’s life, other than that it’s plainly Fraud Support.

    • http://blogs.eagletribune.com/headlines Noah R. Bombard

      Not sure I understand what you're saying. Are you saying child support isn't that much and these guys should pay up or that the courts are asking too much of them? Or maybe I'm misreading your post altogether.

  • jc

    You see politicians, rich dudes, celebrities, and even ministers not payin child support. Not because they don’t have it because they just don’t want to. Now John Gray has to jump in and agree with them that is what I call fraud Support of a bunch of losers

    • lynn

      On July 27, 2010 the famous author John Gray will be arraigned on criminal charges at the Los Angeles Superior Court for failing to honor a court ordered wage assignment for Richard Bernstein the CEO of his company Mars Venus Coaching.

      Mr. Bernstein has already been arraigned and is awaiting trial in Los Angeles. The Nevada District Attorney has also filed criminal charges against Mr. Bernstein.

      Richard Bernstein was previously convicted for failing to pay court ordered child support and was sentenced to probation and community service.

      His three children are owed well over a year in child support payments.

      John Gray and Richard Bernstein sell franchises and provide training in business, family, and life coaching.

  • jc

    You see politicians, rich dudes, celebrities, and even ministers not payin child support. Not because they don't have it because they just don't want to. Now John Gray has to jump in and agree with them that is what I call fraud Support of a bunch of losers

    • lynn

      On July 27, 2010 the famous author John Gray will be arraigned on criminal charges at the Los Angeles Superior Court for failing to honor a court ordered wage assignment for Richard Bernstein the CEO of his company Mars Venus Coaching.

      Mr. Bernstein has already been arraigned and is awaiting trial in Los Angeles. The Nevada District Attorney has also filed criminal charges against Mr. Bernstein.

      Richard Bernstein was previously convicted for failing to pay court ordered child support and was sentenced to probation and community service.

      His three children are owed well over a year in child support payments.

      John Gray and Richard Bernstein sell franchises and provide training in business, family, and life coaching.

  • Anonymous

    During the hearing, the court will hear on the pieces of evidence that will be presented by both the child custody issues involved parties. This will aid them in determining whether a child custody and support determination must be thoroughly modified or not.

    • Tom

      In criminal cases for non payment of child support the court does not hear evidence on custody for it has no bearing. It comes down to if the party had the ability to pay court ordered child support and did not they are convicted of non payment of support. If a party was previously convicted of non payment of support the second time around is a mandatory jail sentence.

      For employers such as John Gray who refuse to honor a court ordered wage assignment ordering the employer to garnish the employees wages for child support they too can be criminally prosecuted if the court determines the employee was working at the company during the time child support was court ordered and a wage assignment was in effect. The employer can also be held accountable for all wages that were not garnished.

  • BlakeKirkpatrick

    During the hearing, the court will hear on the pieces of evidence that will be presented by both the child custody issues involved parties. This will aid them in determining whether a child custody and support determination must be thoroughly modified or not.

    • Tom

      In criminal cases for non payment of child support the court does not hear evidence on custody for it has no bearing. It comes down to if the party had the ability to pay court ordered child support and did not they are convicted of non payment of support. If a party was previously convicted of non payment of support the second time around is a mandatory jail sentence.

      For employers such as John Gray who refuse to honor a court ordered wage assignment ordering the employer to garnish the employees wages for child support they too can be criminally prosecuted if the court determines the employee was working at the company during the time child support was court ordered and a wage assignment was in effect. The employer can also be held accountable for all wages that were not garnished.

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