Terrell Owens Facing Jail Time – T.O. Misses Court Dates, Child Support Payments
Terrell Owens is one troubled human being. The former NFL wide receiver has had several professional setbacks, a series of bad investments, and three “baby mamas” to take care of. He has said that he blew through his $80 million in career earnings earlier this year, only to say a few months later that he’s not broke at all. His latest, possibly biggest, problem? He’s behind on child support and skipped a court date meant to settle it. Now the judge is threatening T.O. with jail time.
Owens is reportedly up to $20,000 behind on child support payments, reports WSB-TV Atlanta. After failing to show up for a hearing on the matter on Thursday in Fulton County, Georgia, Judge John Goger was reportedly so incensed by T.O.’s absence that he threatened the former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver with jail time if he fails to show up for his next hearing on July 19th, reports USA Today.
One of T.O.’s “baby mamas,” Melanie Smith, is owed months in backed child support payments. Smith is the mother of Owens’ 7-year-old daughter, and says that he hasn’t made child support in months. The standing agreement requires Owens to pay her roughly $5,000 a month. “It’s a tragedy, not only that we are here today; this is the third case she has had to file in the last year,” said Smith’s lawyer, Randy Kessler.
Luckily, Owens’ quick-thinking attorney David Hartin was in court on behalf of his client. He told the judge that Owens’ absence was merely the result of miscommunication between lawyer and client. Of course, this isn’t the first time Owens has missed an appearance and blamed someone else, notes NFL.com. He famously blew a children’s hospital appearance, later blaming a publicist.
“If only there was a way for humans to communicate with each other without being face to face. Possibly a device that allows us to speak to each other from great distances. A talking box or a typed message transmitter? One day. One day,” quipped Dan Hanzus of NFL.com.
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