LOCAL NEWS
Texans linebacker drops ball on child support 
05:07 PM CST on Tuesday, November 8, 2005
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.
By Jeremy Rogalski / 11 News
Click to watch 11 News Defenders exclusive report
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