Deadbeat dad caught through Internet dating service

By Julia Spalding

Published on March 15, 2006

No love connection was made when Brian Lee Todd of Fort Mill showed up for a date arranged through an online singles service. Instead, the 31-year-old man who was wanted on a family court bench warrant for unpaid child support ended the evening in the Lexington County Detention Center.

Todd had evaded law enforcement for a year before detectives learned that he regularly used an Internet dating site. A female undercover detective emailed Todd a photo of herself in civilian's clothing, expressing interest in meeting him for a date. The two arranged to meet at a nearby campground. When Todd arrived for the date, he quickly realized that his intended was an officer of the law and took off running. After a foot chase, Todd was taken into custody, where he awaits a hearing on his failure to pay more than $5,000 in child support. He faces at least five months in jail for contempt of court.

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