http://www.kobtv.com/index.cfm?viewer=storyviewer&id=17728&cat=HOME

Last Update: 03/11/2005 10:42:44 AM
By: Todd Dukart
Video

There was no baby, a judge said. And now an investigation into why the
"father" of the child had to pay $20,000 in support is nearly finished.

Steve Barreras was ordered to pay child support to his ex-wife, Viola
Trevino, for a daughter she said she had.

But when Trevino was ordered to produce the 5-year-old girl, she apparently
took another woman's 2-year-old girl into the courtroom several hours after
the deadline. That's when the judge ruled the child never existed.

In December, Gov. Bill Richardson ordered an investigation into why Barreras
had to pay for so long.

Richardson announced Thursday that the investigation is nearly over. That
was welcome news to Richar' Farr, an advocate for non-custodial parents who
runs the Internet radio station KrightsRadio.com.

"In fact, they're taking one whole aspect - the non-custodial parent - and
many times running them into financial ruin and not allowing them to be with
their kids as well," Farr said.

Richardson said he was outraged when he heard of Barreras' case.

"It's pretty outrageous what happens," Richardson said. "We
should have
definite proof of the existence of the child at the very least."

State courts hearing child support cases will require a photo of the child
starting in about a month. That rule is being put in place as a direct
result of the Trevino case.

Farr has organized a rally for the rights of non-custodial parents. It's
scheduled for Friday at noon outside Albuquerque's district courthouse.


--
Men are everywhere that matters!





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