'Family Matters' Star Darius McCrary Faces Prison Time Over Alleged Unpaid Child Support

Family Matters alum Darius McCrary is facing up to four years in prison after being charged with four felony counts over allegedly unpaid child support, several months prior to his arrest at the U.S.-Mexico border, Us Weekly can exclusively confirm. His representative informed Us that the actor has consistently provided for his son and been a part of his life whenever opportunities arose.

In August 2024, McCrary submitted legal documents in Michigan seeking the cancellation of a bench warrant for his arrest, which was issued on June 24, 2024, after he failed to appear for a scheduled hearing. McCrary, 49, contended that the child’s birth certificate was invalid due to a missing signature on the document and argued the court lacked jurisdiction over him.

The actor’s legal counsel stated that prosecutors had threatened to extradite McCrary from California if he did not attend a hearing on August 12, 2024.

McCrary’s lawyer asserted that McCrary shares a “close, nurturing, capable, and loving relationship with his three minor children, including the one central to this case.”

At the time, McCrary indicated he had been caring for his mother, who was recovering from surgery. “McCrary, a California resident and respected member of the community, was absent for the arraignment on June 24, 2024, because he did not receive the mailed notification sent to a P.O. box, located miles from his residence and not checked daily, in contrast to his home address, in time to appear, nor did he receive an email as typically done” by the court.

The filing also claimed McCrary had COVID in June 2024. “If he had traveled from California to Michigan on June 24, 2024, he would have exposed the public around him, including other travelers on the airplane, individuals in the courtroom and others, to the risk of contracting COVID from him.”

In the submission, McCrary highlighted that the son at the core of the case was 17 and that they maintained a “strong” relationship.

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The former child star maintained he was not a flight risk and emphasized his status as a “career-long, high-profile actor.”

On Tuesday, October 14, the actor’s representative, Ann Barlow, informed Us that the entire situation is a misunderstanding. She reiterated the point that McCrary was not properly served with notice of the legal proceedings.

She explained that the court mailed the notice to his P.O. box and not his Los Angeles home address, which she claimed the court had on record. McCrary’s representative also alleged that the actor’s lawyer was not given appropriate notification.

She believes McCrary’s “due process” was violated because he received less than nine days’ notice for the hearing. She stated that after McCrary received the notice a day after the hearing, however, he immediately contacted the court upon getting the mail.

Barlow tells Us that McCrary is in the process of retaining a new lawyer to sort everything out. Furthermore, Barlow claims the son in question lived with McCrary for the first seven years of his life. She said the entertainer consistently provides for his son and ensures his well-being.

Barlow claimed that McCrary has not been credited for support paid directly to his son. She said McCrary has been “railroaded” by the Oakland County court.

McCrary has been free on bond since his arrest in late 2023 concerning child support. He was released after posting bond. Prosecutors claimed the actor owed $95,523 in back support as of March 31, 2024.

In March 2024, Michigan prosecutors alleged McCrary was not making his child support payments while out on bond.

Prosecutors requested that McCrary’s bond be revoked. In July 2024, the prosecutors claimed the actor failed to appear at a June 24, 2024, hearing, and a bench warrant was subsequently issued.

As Us previously reported, McCrary was apprehended on October 5 in San Diego, California, by the United States Border Patrol.

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The arrest occurred near the U.S.-Mexico border. Online records categorize McCrary as a “fugitive.”

McCrary is still held without bond. A court proceeding has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 15.

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Barlow had previously released a statement asserting the arrest was due to McCrary missing a court date in a legal dispute with the mother of his son, who is now 18, according to USA Today.

She claimed McCrary was traveling to Mexico to construct homes for those in need.

McCrary has encountered issues concerning alleged unpaid child support in the past. Back in 2015, McCrary was arrested over unpaid child support in Michigan, as reported by TMZ.