Sampson charged with failure to pay child support

[Louis Cypher]

[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 3/26/03 ]

By BILL RANKIN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Former NBA star Ralph Sampson appeared in federal court here Tuesday on charges he failed to pay more than $51,000 in child support for two children.

Sampson, 42, was indicted last week in Richmond for failing to pay $21,628 in child support for a daughter who lives in Falmouth, Va., according to court documents unsealed Tuesday. He also is charged separately for failing to pay $29,542 in child support for another daughter who lives in Charlottesville, Va.

The former NBA center, who now lives in Sandy Springs, turned himself in to federal authorities Tuesday morning and was held briefly in custody until an afternoon court hearing. He was released on $40,000 bond, to be secured by his parents' home in Harrisburg, Va. That means if Sampson fails to show up in court or violates the conditions of his bond, federal authorities can seize the house.

Sampson is charged under Child Support Recovery Act, which makes it a federal crime for someone to allow more than $10,000 in past-due child support to remain unpaid for more than two years.

During the hearing, Sampson was represented by a federal defender who said Sampson recently paid all the child support he owes with a wire transfer.

"He's made full payment," federal defender Jake Waldrop said. "The money's there to be disbursed. He wants to put this behind him."

Waldrop, who was appointed to represent Sampson only for Tuesday's hearing, said Sampson has a retained lawyer ready to defend him in Virginia.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Candace Howard said she was unsettled upon learning that Sampson has had no fixed address over the past year. "That concerns me," she told U.S. Magistrate Alan Baverman during a bond hearing.

But Waldrop said Sampson has never made any attempt to conceal his residential address from anyone. The lawyer said Sampson will appear in court to answer the charges in Richmond on April 7 and in Charlottesville on April 9.

"Mr. Sampson is going to show up and be a man of his word," Waldrop told the judge. "His whole focus and purpose by turning himself in this morning is to put this behind him."

Sampson retired from the NBA in 1994 after an 11-year career. According to court documents, Sampson was paid $539,060 in 1999 and $134,765 in 2000 by the Sacramento Kings. In 2001, he earned $11,207 while employed by a number of organizations, including NBA Entertainment, records show.

[GMON]

Ewing said "We make a lot, but we spend a lot." [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img]

[MTA]

And Tyson said, "We make a lot but I'm broke".