• :
  • Member Center
  • :
  • Make This Your Home Page
  • :
  • Special Offers
khou.com Web  

LOCAL NEWS

Texans linebacker drops ball on child support

05:07 PM CST on Tuesday, November 8, 2005

By Jeremy Rogalski / 11 News

Antwan Peek's statement

Click to watch 11 News Defenders exclusive report

He's a fan-favorite on the field, but the 11 News Defenders have uncovered what's happening off the field once landed a Houston NFL pro in jail.

Apparently, the Houston Texans linebacker is facing more trouble, and soon the Texans' Antwan Peek is set to go to court again.

The reason the NFL father is in hot water?

KHOU-TV

Antwan Peek owes child support to four women in three states.

Child Advocates call it an "out-of-control" case of having kids, but ignoring your fatherly duties.

On a Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati, there was a battle with the Bengals. For the Houston Texans' number 98, it was a return home.

"I had my family here, and you know, we enjoyed it," said Peek.

He's Antwan Peek, linebacker on the field and role-model off, with time for community activities charities and children..

That particular October weekend, one Cincinnati child went ignored.

Omari Peek is the linebacker's 5-year-old son, but the closest he got to his father was watching him on TV.

"It's a smack in my face, it's a smack in the face of his child," said Omari's mother, Dara Moore, "Fatherhood is being there for your child."

But there's another reason.

Unpaid child support, money needed for a boy with big league dreams of becoming, "A doctor and a teacher and a football player," he said.

"It's ridiculous," said his mother, "It just makes me feel disgusted."

She is disgusted because court records show Peek owes mom and son more than $80,000 in support. This despite making $380,000 a year and getting a $500,000 signing bonus.

"If you're getting all of this money, why would you not extend a hand to help your child?" his mom said.

Records show what little help she did receive was sometimes as low as $31 and change.

How much was peek supposed to be paying? Records say $5,000 a month.

"This is mean and cruel and criminal," said Lynda Benson, national expert and advocate for child support enforcement, "I think it's despicable. This man is not taking responsibility. Every month that that child goes without child support is a difficult month for that child."

But it turns out that Omari and his mother are not the only ones missing that support from the NFL father. In fact, Peek has left a trail that covers three states.

In addition to Dara Moore there's a second Cincinnati mother and child. Peek owes them $70,000 and faces contempt charges from the local court.

In Michigan, records confirm Peek owes a third mother $41,000 and in Kentucky, records show a fourth mother was owed more than $10,000 dollars.

Peek paid that in one lump sum, but only after he was locked up in jail, arrested on a fugitive warrant for felony flagrant non -support of a child.

When 11 News Defenders tried to ask Peek about the back support owed, the Texans wouldn't let their player talk. They said they locker room was closed.

His lawyer, however talked. "He understands he owes money, he clearly does," said Jim Comodeca, Peek's attorney, "Mr. Peek wants to take of his children. What he's trying to do is make things right

When he was asked why is had taken so long, "Well, I knew you'd ask that question, and I, quite frankly, don't have an answer for that question," Comodeca said.

And what about the Texans, what do they have to say about all of this?

"Antwan is not a bad person OK? He's not a bad person. He's fulfilling his obligations," said Tony Wiley, Texans spokesperson.

But for Dara Moore, obligations go beyond all the money owed. Just look at Peek's team bio, she said. The linebacker lists only two sons and neither is Omari.

"He doesn't even acknowledge that my son exists," she said, "Right now he's too little, but one day he'll know all of this, and he's going to see what his father thinks of him."

The Texans say they do garnish Antwan Peek's wages, withholding whatever monthly amount the courts specify. The concern with thatis players only get paid during the NFL season, which is about four months long.

For the rest of the year, it's up to Antwan Peek to keep up with the support payments and that has not occurred.

The Texans aren't saying Antwan Peek dropped the ball, instead, the team says Peek had a bad lawyer who didn't stay on top of things and he's since changed attorneys, and gotten a financial advisor.

Inside KHOU.com

News Your Way: Get KHOU.com headlines
delivered to your favorite RSS reader.

Submit your Pics: Upload photos and browse others in our Pics section.

Submit Your Video: Upload your videos and browse others in our video section.

Find Activities: What's happening in your neighborhood? Community Calendar.

Discuss the News: Talk about the latest news, weather and entertainment headlines in our online forums.

Popular Stories