John Murtari, New York father and passive resister to the immorality of current family law, hasn't had solid food since reporting to jail on July 31 to serve a 6-month sentence for "willful failure to pay child support ." Murtari says he isn't able to pay the full amount ordered, based on a salary he no longer had at the time of his divorce and hasn't had since, a practice called imputing income.
Murtari, an Air Force Academy graduate and ex-training pilot, planned on being a priest at one time but gave it up when he realized how badly he wanted a family. Not only was the child support calculated unjustly, says Murtari, his ex-wife was allowed to move his son across the country against his wishes. Given the choice of staying in his son's life which meant paying for costly flights several times per year, or sending that money to his ex-wife who Murtari claims is well-off financially, Murtari followed his conscience. Calls to his ex-wife have not been returned.
Murtari's request for a stay while he waits to appeal the sentence was refused. Today he learned he has a court date of Wednesday, October 18th at 8:30 a.m. to ask for a reduced sentence. If this request is denied he expects to get out December 1, after four months in jail. Four months his son couldn't see him, four months he risked losing his small internet business (one of his employees recently left, leaving one man to handle the entire operation), four months with no food. Murtari is being fed through a nasal feeding tube and stays on the medical floor of the Onodaga County Justice Center. "This isn't a hunger strike. I have no desire to die. I am making it as inconvenient as I can for them to keep me locked up," said Murtari.
With fatherlessness being one of society's greatest liabilities, it seems Murtari made the right choice. Photos of their time together, showing a close and loving relationship between father and son, can be seen on Murtari's website AKidsRight.org. In interviews with the media Murtari, who wants equal physical and legal custody, talked about his son Domenic, 13, who has told the authorities he wants more time with his father, crying when it's time for them to part.
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