[Mz. Sports Luva]

Originally posted by Steeltrap
Former hoops star Ralph Sampson charged with failing to pay child support

By BILL RANKIN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


Former basketball star Ralph Sampson appeared in federal court in Atlanta today 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 Fairmouth, Va., according to court documents unsealed today. 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 now lives in Sandy Springs. Wearing a gray suit and white button-down shirt, the slender 7-foot-4 Sampson towered above his lawyer and other court officials during a brief hearing.

Sampson once starred for the University of Virginia and was the first pick of the 1983 draft by the Houston Rockets.

He turned himself in to federal authorities this morning and was held in custody until this afternoon's court hearing. He was released on $40,000 bond, to be secured by his parents' home in Harrisburg, Va.

During the hearing, Sampson was represented by a federal defender who said Sampson a few days ago 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 dispersed. He wants to put this behind him."

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."

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.

I heard this story on the radio yesterday & at the end of the story, they added that Ralph is India. Arie's father ! I'd never heard this, so I called the station to make sure I'd heard it correctly. They confirmed it.

Is this old news?