ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The new prosecuting attorney for St. Louis County, Wesley Bell, made headlines this week by announcing sweeping new policy changes.
One of them was a directive to attorneys in his office that on an interim basis, they are no longer allowed to criminally prosecute the failure to pay child support.
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Bell said the reason behind the policy is that parents who end up jailed, or are forced to leave their job because of criminal charges, will have an even harder time providing support for their family.
"We're going to get St. Louis County in line with the rest of the state and handle these matters as civil contempt matters. I do not and will not support debtor's prisons," he said.
Bell emphasized that even in civil court, it's possible for parents who demonstrate a complete disregard for paying child support can still end up serving jail time.
But now, 5 On Your Side has uncovered that one of Bell's senior level staff members failed to financially support his children over a period of at least 10 years.
Court records show that Tim Swope, Bell's new Director of Operations, owes his ex-wife nearly $19,000 in back due child support and medical expenses.
The couple divorced in September 2003, but shared joint custody of their three kids.
As part of the dissolution of their marriage, Swope was required by the court to pay a total of $1,200 per month in child support.
In 2008, the court recalculated the payment agreement. That's when Swope routinely began missing payments, prompting his ex-wife to take legal action.
Fast forward to May 2018. Swope, his ex-wife and the Hon. Mary B. Schroeder, a St. Louis County family court judge, all signed a judgment to resolve the situation.
Under the judgment, Swope agreed to pay $457 per month over the next four years to get caught up on all the missed payments that piled up over 10 years.
The total at the time of the judgement was $21,936. It was all incurred before Swope's three kids were eventually emancipated by the state.
But court records show Swope only made two payments under the payment plan set forth by the court's judgment, one of $818 on June 18, 2018 and one of $457 on Sept. 14, 2018.
That means he was delinquent again for several months in the second half of last year.
In fact, court records indicate the two payments only came "...as a result of numerous phone calls to the St. Louis County Child Support, Vinita Park City Hall, and opposing counsel..."
Swope, the former chief of the North County Police Cooperative, worked out of and was paid by Vinita Park in that capacity.
Court records report Swope, "...with full knowledge of the aforesaid terms of the 2018 order, has willfully disobeyed, failed and refused to comply with the aforesaid terms of the Judgments and Missouri law..."
However, in late 2018, around the time that Swope left the police co-op and became politically involved in Wesley Bell's campaign for prosecuting attorney, he caught up on the monthly $457 payments that were overdue at the time.
On Swope's income withholding form, that legally requires him to deduct money from his income for child support, he lists the Wesley Bell Campaign Office as his employer.
Records from the Missouri Ethics Commission show Bell's campaign paid Swope at least $3,000 last year for work done on Bell's transition team.
Now, as of at least January 2, 2019, Swope works for Bell in the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office in a cabinet-level management position.
At the time the office announced their interim policy shift on child support earlier this week, Swope still owed his ex-wife a balance of approximately $18,700 that is supposed to be paid out over the time set out by the court's May 2018 judgment.
"I do try to vet them, but I don't ask them if they owe child support. I don't think anyone should not have an opportunity to work if they child support," said Bell.
He sat down with Five on Your Side investigative reporter Jacob Long, who broke this story, on Friday afternoon.
Bell said he first became aware of Swope's existing child support debt just hours before the interview.
"I'll be perfectly honest with you, if it's not a criminal matter it's none of my business," Bell said.
Now that he is aware of the situation, Bell said it would be a "gross characterization" to say there was any conflict of interest.
He denied that Swope's situation had any baring on his interim policy shift on child support prosecution.
"My policies have been consistent since day one, long before Chief Swope joined my transition team," Bell said. "These are the people we want working. These are the people we want to have opportunities."
Bell insisted that if anything, Swope is an example of why these cases should remain in civil courts.
"When someone is doing their best to make those payments and support their family, there shouldn't be a stigma preventing them from getting a job," he said.
Bell said Swope is continuing to make payments.
Swope's ex-wife had no comment.
Swope's attorney did not return our calls seeking comment.
But Swope, in a brief phone conversation said, "I'm good where I am." He provided no further comment.
You can read the court records by clicking here.
