Five defendants were driving from Howard Circuit Court when deputies arrested them on charges of driving with suspended licenses because of delinquent child support payments, said the Howard’s Sheriff’s Office.

“I think they were shocked,” said Lt. Charles Gable, sheriff’s office spokesman, referring to the arrests that occurred Friday and Monday.

“We got all kinds of reactions; the first person we pulled over was like, ‘Wow.’ ”

The defendants are John Porterfield, 43, of Columbia; Denee Powell, 43, of Silver Spring; Riko Johnson, 26, of Annapolis; Craig Myers, 44, of Highland; and Renard Whitehead, 41, of Bowie.

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The maximum sentence for driving with a suspended license is a $500 fine and two months in jail, Gable said.

All were released pending a June 26 Howard District Court trial.

The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration can suspend the driver’s license of any noncustodial parent who has not complied with court-ordered child support for more than 60 days, according to state law.

The Howard Sheriff’s Office received complaints from county child support officials who believed some defendants were driving themselves to and from Circuit Court for child support contempt hearings.

“I guess they never thought someone would actually check to see if they were driving,” Gable said.

The sheriff’s office cross-checked driving records with the court docket and set in motion a plan to arrest the defendants if they tried to drive themselves, Gable said.

A courtroom deputy watched the defendants leave the hearing and then described their clothing to a second deputy standing watch outside.

That deputy observed the defendants get into cars and then notified a third deputy waiting on Courthouse Drive, Gable said.

When the defendants turned onto Courthouse Drive, they were stopped and arrested on charges of driving while suspended as well as some for failing to wear seat belts, Gable said.

cpeirce@baltimoreexaminer.com