Dad ordered to pay £50,000 in child support for girl that ISN’T his own
A court in Texas ruled in 2003 that Gabriel Cornejo, 45, should pay support money to his ex-girlfriend, who had recently given birth, after she insisted he was the only possible father, Fox News reports.
But Cornejo, who is currently raising three kids of his own along with his two nephews, claims nobody told him at the time, Fox News reports.
He said he only found out about the child support payments last year when a deputy served him with court papers showing he was listed as having another child.
After meeting his supposed daughter for the first and only time – describing her as a “wonderful girl” — he agreed to take a DNA test.
But despite the test showing he is not the girl’s dad, his ex is still demanding around £50,000 in back payments.
Cornejo said: “I never thought in my whole life I would have to defend myself for something that I am innocent of.”
Texas law states he still owes the support payments that accrued before the paternity test proved he was not the girl’s biological father.
His ex-girlfriend’s lawyer Carel Stith claimed money was taken out of Cornejo’s pay cheque several years ago.
The fact he didn’t contest it at the time, he said, effectively means he accepted the responsibility for all the missed payments since in the eyes of the law.
Stith told local news: “There can be consequences – even if you don’t do anything.”
Cornejo and his attorney Cheryl Coleman must now persuade a judge to reopen the case.
If that doesn’t happen, he must pay up or face time behind bars.
The case is due back in court next month.
