One parent owed $170,000 in child-support payments.
SOMERVILLE -- Sheriff's officers arrested 35 people for failure to pay child support as part of a statewide sweep through NJ Kids, Somerset County Sheriff Frank J. Provenzano announced Wednesday.
"From Sept. 20 to 22, my Sheriff's Officers conducted a sweep of individuals charged with being delinquent in making child-support payments," Provenzano said. "The operation involved more than 28 Sheriff's Officers, operating in teams, who served outstanding warrants and made arrests."
Parents owing a total of more than $869,819 in child support were arrested, he said."
One was Richard Kaul, 51, who was arrested in Palisades Park. He owed a total of $170,000 in child-support payments.
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Also apprehended in the sweep was Sabrina Hunter of New Brunswick, who was arrested on an outstanding bench warrant from Somerset County for failure to appear in court and two municipal court warrants out of South Plainfield and North Brunswick, said Provenzano.
Two South Bound Brook residents arrested on child-support warrants, Mario E. Munguia and Aaron Gray, also had outstanding violation-of-probation, no-bail warrants from Somerset County, said Provenzano.
"This operation was conducted to remind parents of the importance of making regular child-support payments and hopefully renew their commitment to do the right thing," said Provenzano. "Child support is a safety net for many Somerset County families. Children depend on child support for their basic needs such as food, shelter, healthcare and back-to-school clothing.
"The roundup was a great success as far as the statistics show. What we don't see is how many delinquent parents pay up once they know we are looking for them. Knowing that they face possible arrest encourages a delinquent parent to uphold their obligations or face incarceration."
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.