Court Knowingly Incarcerates Frank Hatley Over Non-Payment of Child Support for Son that Isn't His Biological Child

Frank Hatley has been sitting in a south Georgia prison since June 25, 2008, because he failed to reimburse the state for all the public assistance his so-called son received over the past two decades. The only problem with this is that the son in question isn't his biological child. What is unconscionable is that the special assistant state attorney and a judge knew that, but they threw him in jail anyway.

Hatley, who is currently incarcerated in the Adel county jail, is costing the county between $35 to $40 daily, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Hartey paid thousands of dollars to the state even after learning that he was not the biological father of the child. This is a classic case of the court system trying to "squeeze water from a rock." Even after losing his job and becoming homeless, Hatley still reportedly made payments out of his unemployment benefits.

According to the AJC, Hatley had a relationship with Essie Lee Morrison, who became pregnant and gave birth to a son, Travon, in 1987. The couple split up shortly after the birth. Morrison applied for public assistance for her son in 1989. The state then moved to get Hatley to reimburse the cost of Travon's support. Hatley agreed to make payments because he believed the child was his. According to court records, DNA samples taken from Hatley and Travon in 2000 showed that the two are not related. Another DNA test was recently done that confirms the findings of the earlier test.


This is a disgrace and he should turn around, once released from prison, and sue the county and the mother of this child. To read the entire article in the Atlanta Journal, CLICK HERE.

Posted in: Adel county,child support,DNA,Essie Lee Morrison,Frank Hatley,incarcerated,public assistance,Travon