McHenry Co. tries public humiliation route to nab deadbeat dads

Court orders, collection notices, the threat of garnished wages and even the possibility of arrest haven't worked, so maybe a little public humiliation will do the trick.

That's at least part of the motivation behind McHenry County's launch last week of a new website identifying the worst of the worst deadbeat parents and seeking the public's help in tracking them down.

Sheriff Keith Nygren said his office's Fugitive Apprehension Unit, tasked with tracking down the suspected deadbeats, suggested the website, hoping to build off the success of the department's Top 10 Most Wanted site.

"This is just as serious a problem, so why not get the information out there and get some help from the public," Nygren said. "We think it's going to be a very worthwhile endeavor."

A link to the site can be located on the sheriff's homepage, co.mchenry.il.us/departments/sheriff.

The site currently lists seven accused deadbeat parents, all fathers, who according to the courts owe between $41,192 and $5,346 in child support payments.

"These are some of the most egregious cases," Nygren said.

Visitors will see the accused's name and photo, last known address, the amount he owes and his age, along with other identifying information. The site asks anyone who knows of the men's whereabouts to contact the sheriff's office of McHenry County Crime Stoppers, and not try to apprehend the person themselves.

Besides helping to locate the accused deadbeats, McHenry County State's Attorney Louis Bianchi said he hopes the public exposure causes them to consider making good on their child support debts.

"It should be an embarrassment for fathers or mothers who owe child support to see their names and faces in public like this," Bianchi said.