DHS Confuses Devoted Dad for Deadbeat

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A well-known minister is facing a day in court for neglecting three children he's never met. Authorities said he owes nearly $75,000 in back child support, but this supposed deadbeat dad is actually the victim of a multi-state mix-up.

Keith Burkhart has devoted his life to God, his family and his work as a Baptist minister.

"I'm the father of 10 children. I married my high school sweetheart," Keith Burkhart said.

The 50-year-old has worked as a family minister for more than a decade. His goal is to help other men find faith when it comes to family matters.

"It's a call in my life to impact change," the Baptist minister said.

But the fruitful father says another man, more than 1,000 miles away, is changing his life.

"Well, I received a letter from the state of Pennsylvania stating that I owed just shy of $75,000 of back child support for some children that are not mine," Burkhart said.

The name on the notice is the same, but this Keith Burkhart said the Social Security numbers and birthdays don't match.

"Oh, I thought it's a mistaken identity. They just got the wrong address," Burkhart said.

The minister said he cleared the confusion with the agency in Pennsylvania, but the state of Oklahoma is still demanding the payments.

"I've tried calling and dealing with this, but I've not had very much success as of late," Burkhart said.

Burkhart said for the past two months, the Department of Human Services has threatened to garnish his wages, and he's been ordered to appear in court. If he doesn't show, a warrant may be issued for his arrest.

"I'm glad they're trying to go after deadbeat dads, but my frustration is trying to clear my name and wondering how far this is going to go," Burkhart said.

NEWS 9 spoke with the assistant director of the DHS Child Support Division Wednesday night. She said she's already on top of the case and her staff plans to meet with Mr. Burkhart Thursday to help sort all this out.