Pct. 7 Deputy Nabbing Child Support Evaders

HOUSTON -- If you were to add up all the money owed by the child support defendants that Deputy Wilbert Marshall has arrested, the total would be about $2.5 million.

When Marshall heads out to his unmarked car, it usually means someone is about to go to jail. The 14-year veteran of the Harris County Precinct 7 Constable's Office arrests about a dozen child support evaders every month.

Seven of the arrests he has made were also on the Texas Attorney General's Top 10 Most Wanted Child Support Evaders List.

Marshall is compiling a record that makes his constable very happy.

"We have not quite figured out how he does it as well as he does," Harris County Precinct 7 Constable May Walker told FOX 26 News.

Marshall says it is persistence.

"I don't stop. I keep checking and checking and checking," Marshall said.

Robert G. Thomas was Marshall's most recent arrest and remains behind bars on a child-support violation.

Marshall followed Thomas' trail to Needville, back to southeast Houston and finally tracked him down at a motel a few blocks away from his girlfriend's house.

"He knew I was coming to the house. He didn't want to be caught at the house," Marshall said. "I went there one day and there was a different car in the driveway, so I knew if I knocked on the door, they'd have to answer ... someone was in the house."

When FOX 26's Ned Hibberd knocked, there was no response. But Marshall got better results -- a shirtless and shocked Thomas.

Marshall told FOX 26 News that Thomas owes about $90,000 in back child support, practically three times the average annual household income in Houston.

However, the deputy said he isn't optimistic that the kids will ever collect.

"I don't think he'll ever pay the $90,000 but he'll have to start paying. Right now, he's not paying anything," Marshall said.

But Walker said Marshall's persistence is paying dividends.

"IF I could just get a couple more just like him, I would be happy," Walker said.

And so would the Attorney General's Office. To take a look at the latest list of the state's Most Wanted Child Support Evaders, visit www.oag.state.tx.us/cs/evaders/evader_all.php?newer=Latest .HOUSTON -- If you were to add up all the money owed by the child support defendants that Deputy Wilbert Marshall has arrested, the total would be about $2.5 million.

When Marshall heads out to his unmarked car, it usually means someone is about to go to jail. The 14-year veteran of the Harris County Precinct 7 Constable's Office arrests about a dozen child support evaders every month.

Seven of the arrests he has made were also on the Texas Attorney General's Top 10 Most Wanted Child Support Evaders List.

Marshall is compiling a record that makes his constable very happy.

"We have not quite figured out how he does it as well as he does," Harris County Precinct 7 Constable May Walker told FOX 26 News.

Marshall says it is persistence.

"I don't stop. I keep checking and checking and checking," Marshall said.

Robert G. Thomas was Marshall's most recent arrest and remains behind bars on a child-support violation.

Marshall followed Thomas' trail to Needville, back to southeast Houston and finally tracked him down at a motel a few blocks away from his girlfriend's house.

"He knew I was coming to the house. He didn't want to be caught at the house," Marshall said. "I went there one day and there was a different car in the driveway, so I knew if I knocked on the door, they'd have to answer ... someone was in the house."

When FOX 26's Ned Hibberd knocked, there was no response. But Marshall got better results -- a shirtless and shocked Thomas.

Marshall told FOX 26 News that Thomas owes about $90,000 in back child support, practically three times the average annual household income in Houston.

However, the deputy said he isn't optimistic that the kids will ever collect.

"I don't think he'll ever pay the $90,000 but he'll have to start paying. Right now, he's not paying anything," Marshall said.

But Walker said Marshall's persistence is paying dividends.

"IF I could just get a couple more just like him, I would be happy," Walker said.

And so would the Attorney General's Office. To take a look at the latest list of the state's Most Wanted Child Support Evaders, visit www.oag.state.tx.us/cs/evaders/evader_all.php?newer=Latest .