Me, my daughter's Netta and Destiny along with my mom at their graduatuions june 2009
My name is Marcus Nash. I am the father of 2, but only 1 biologically. I will explain. I had a 3 year old daughter name Destiny when I was notified that I would become a dad for the second time. I was 24, attending college, and an aspiring actor.
I was working for the city of LA in the park sercices department as a recreation assistant. I was also a volunteer youth basketball coach as well. In the spring of 2000 when my second daughter Netta was 1yrs old, I recieved a letter from my mother stating that I owe the county nearly $27,000 dollars. I was very surprised to learn that. I contacted the agency that provided the letter for an explanation. They said that my kids mother had been recieving welfare for the past 3 years and that I would be responsible for repaying the money SHE recieved.
I was astounded. I got Martha,(the kids mom) on the phone and alerted her of the letter and she denied ever being on welfare. We were separated and from my knowledge, she had a job. I payed her every 2 weeks, 150 (CASH) dollars, because I was only a part time employee and a full time student. Eventually, we went to court and sure enough, the documents indicated that she indeed was recieving welfare. I was asked to provide reciepts in which I had all reciepts of everything I bought for the kids. I also had a character letter from the city. I was told that the reciepts would not be admitted unless they were payment reciepts to her.
I gave her cash. she denied it and I could'nt prove it. I was giving a payment plan that was excessive considering I was a part timer. I got nailed. My sisters and mom then began to bring to my attention that my second daughter didn't resemble me much. I didn't want to hear that and I would often get upset about it. After a couple of years when she was 4, I took a blood test. This caused Martha to become furious. I loved my daughter and I trully hoping the teast would indicate she was mine, but the results proved otherwise. I was devastaed and have not gotten over it as of yet. I cried and was emotionally distraught and unprepared for that kind of news. It was like learning of a death in your family. I decided to continue being her father.
I couldn't accept it. the courts didn't seem to have any empathy for me at all. I still provide for her. She is my daughter regardless of those test results. It is 2009, 9 years later and I owe $18,000. They have been garnishing me all these years. My taxes, my job, my unemployment and even my second job. I became homeless, depressed and overwhelmed. I am a model citizen with no prior criminal history. I am a non drinker and non drug user. I have volunteered for the city of LA for 18 years as a youth basketball coach inspiring over 2000 kids over the years and being a role model but yet, they take everything from me. 50% of my wages and 25% of unemployment is taken as if im being held up at gun point. It's like everytime they deduct from me the amount increases instead of decreasing. This is basically a form of robbery. How am I suppose to make it.
I still get the kids what they need but yet i'm responsible for paying back money I never recieved let alone had any knowledge of. I am still homeless and hopeless with no desire to go forward. This has absolutely devastated my life and the state doesn't appear to care for another human struggling in this corrupted system designed to punish men simply for having kids. How could this happen to a person that pledges allegiance to a country that is built on greed. I feel nobody cares. My email is marcusnash32@yahoo.com
