Family Matters Star Darius McCrary Faces Extradition Over Child Support Charges
Former Family Matters star Darius McCrary is poised for extradition from California to Michigan, following prosecutors' successful argument that he constitutes a flight risk, Us Weekly can exclusively confirm.
The 49-year-old actor appeared in a San Diego, California, courtroom for a hearing on October 15, following his apprehension by the United States Border Patrol just ten days prior.
“Prosecutors contended that Mr. McCrary presents a flight risk,” his representative, Anne Barlow, informed Us, further noting that the hearing concluded without any bail being established.
Barlow confirmed, “Darius remains detained, awaiting his transfer to Michigan.”
Furthermore, Barlow stated that McCrary's legal team intends to “persist in challenging Oakland County, Michigan, for what they allege are continuous infringements upon McCrary’s due process and legal entitlements.”
Us had earlier revealed that McCrary was apprehended on October 5 in San Diego while en route to participate in a humanitarian effort to construct housing for unhoused individuals.
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Authorities from the border patrol took the actor into custody based on an arrest warrant from a Michigan court, which was issued because McCrary failed to appear at a criminal proceeding concerning accusations of overdue child support payments.
According to legal papers submitted in March 2024, prosecutors claimed McCrary's outstanding child support debt exceeded $95,000.
McCrary’s representative challenged these allegations, asserting that the actor had been unjustly treated or “railroaded” by the Oakland County Court.
Barlow informed Us that McCrary did not receive adequate notification for the court appearance, the absence from which led to the warrant, and argued that his procedural rights had been infringed.
McCrary’s spokesperson revealed to Us that the court dispatched the hearing notification for June 24, 2024, to his P.O. box instead of the residential address he had on record.
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His representative stated that the son involved in the legal dispute resided with McCrary for the initial seven years of his life. Barlow contended that McCrary managed all household expenses throughout that period and maintained financial support for his son subsequently.
Barlow mentioned that McCrary frequently provided funds, or arranged for others to do so, directly to his son. The representative asserted that McCrary has not been credited for the full extent of financial assistance he rendered to his son, now an adult at 18.
The actor's representative also confirmed that McCrary is currently in the process of retaining new legal counsel to aid him with the ongoing proceedings.
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His former attorney informed the court that McCrary maintained a “close, compassionate, capable, and affectionate relationship with his three underage children, including the child pertinent to this matter.”
As Us had earlier disclosed, the legal issues began in late 2023, following McCrary's arrest and subsequent release on bail. By July 2024, prosecutors submitted filings alleging McCrary's ongoing failure to meet his child support obligations, petitioning for his bond to be rescinded.
A court session was scheduled for June, which McCrary failed to attend. His representative and legal counsel assert that he did not receive the hearing notification until the day after its scheduled date, and they state he promptly contacted the court to rectify the oversight.
Legal documents submitted in 2024 also show McCrary contending that the child’s birth certificate lacked validity and that the Michigan court lacked proper jurisdiction over him. Us initially reported that McCrary faces a potential four-year prison sentence in connection with this criminal matter.
