PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (AP) – A West Virginia man has chosen a jail cell rather than pay alimony to his ex-wife, arguing he is intent on changing the state’s paternity laws.
The Vienna man, Sean Keefe, was sentenced to six months in jail this month for refusing to pay his ex-wife $1,800-a-month court-ordered alimony.
Keefe, 37, alleges that two years after their divorce, he discovered he was not the father of the couple’s youngest son.
According to The Parkersburg News and Sentinel, Keefe is financially bound to support the child under West Virginia law. The father of the child bears no responsibility.
Attorney Michelle Rusen, who represents Keefe’s former wife, Tina, declined to discuss the allegations.
“The only thing I can say, these folks were married when this child was born. That means he’s the legal father,” Rusen said.
According to a proposed finding of facts submitted by Rusen on behalf of Tina Keefe, Keefe’s former wife acknowledged giving birth to a child that was not fathered by Sean Keefe. The document was provided to the newspaper by Caroline Keefe, Sean Keefe’s current wife.
The finding of facts, however, also states the child’s paternity was not discovered by either Sean or Tina Keefe until after their divorced.
Caroline Keefe said her husband has never missed the $1,300-a-month child support payment.