Bradley Sheriff's Office Creates ''Hall of Shame''

The Bradley County Sheriff's Office has added a new section to BradleySheriff.com that posts the name, photograph and other pertinent information about offenders of court-ordered child support. They have titled it "Dead Beat Parents Hall of Shame."

According to spokesperson Bob Gault, they have already caught two on the list. Carl D. Howard was arrested on Wednesday on an attachment for contempt of court. He owes over $28,000 in back child support. Paul Landus Johnson is being held in New Mexico on unrelated charges.

Timothy Wayne Tallent, 45, currently owes the largest amount of unpaid child support, $46,730, based on local court records. He is being sought on an active warrant for contempt of court that was issued in December

There are other people listed, and you can see their names, photographs, last known address, and the amount they owe the courts.

Most of the people paying child support are men, but Chief Deputy Bill Dyer noted there are some women who have fallen behind in their child support payments, a sign of the changing times.

Visitors are invited to check the list frequently as new names will be added as arrests are made. .

Sheriff Tim Gobble said, "Having this information on the web site is another way of keeping the public informed and may help serve as incentive to those ordered to pay child support not to neglect their court ordered obligation. Being a parent is an awesome responsibility and to neglect those who God entrusted to your care is morally and legally wrong. It is our intent to place the most flagrant offenders on this web site in order to find them and hold them responsible."

Delinquent child support payments total over $700,000 in Bradley County.

If you know where one of the offenders on the Hall of Shame can be found contact the BCSO warrants division at 423-728-7390 or 423-728-7393.