Tortured for child support - part one

September 4, 2:27 PMFamily Rights ExaminerTeri Stoddard

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David Bardes was left in a hypothermic jail cell for 32.5
hours, 31.5 more hours than Bush's torture memo allows

While pundits around the country discuss the United States' torture of suspected terrorists, one U.S. torture victim has gone unnoticed.   United States child support collection problems are common, and in David A. Bardes' case, almost deadly.  

Part One

Bardes, who lost 126 friends in the World Trade Center attack on September 11, wanted nothing more than to be a good dad and equal parent to his son and daughter.  He didn't ask his wife to have an affair with the nanny's husband.  And when his ex-wife moved their children to another state after the divorce, Bardes followed, twice. 

Due to the children living in three states over a short period of time (PA, NC, SC) Bardes had all three states charging him child support, resulting in mistaken arrears.  Bardes says he never willfully withheld child support, and documents related to his Federal court case (#02:08-487-PMD-RSC) support his claim. 

Bardes developed severe depression after being treated like a criminal. He says they "seized assets, destroyed my credit ratings, destroyed my business and income, and my mental health."  He lost so much weight he was "skin and bones."  This man who once made $180,000 a year now had a hard time finding employment. 

One judge dismissed the arrears.   Which makes one wonder why the next one, South Carolina Judge Garfinkel knowingly filed paperwork stating that Bardes was in serious arrears,  charging him with immediate arrest and six months in jail. 

Bardes alledges that the State Attorney for South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) John Magera sent him a death threat earlier through a friend.  Judge Garfinkel's decision, the arrest of Bardes, and the torture that followed almost left two children without a father.

On the ride to jail, I looked out the back window and stared at the drivers that were tailgating and passing the jail truck. I was forlorn and the situation was surreal. I was going to my death, and I accepted it fully. I was not sure how they were going to kill me, but I was soon going to find out.

Bardes was now under the control of Al Cannon, Jr. Esq, Sheriff of Charleston County.  On April 3, 2006 at 6:20 pm Bardes was left in a small jail cell that had forced cold air coming through two large vents.  (see photo below) 

The air was 55 degrees.  After a short time Bardes realized this was a hypothermic chamber.  That fact would be confirmed in the reply to his inmate grievance form which states the cell is used to "subdue" prisoners, so they are "less likely to riot."  (see document below)

Tortured for child support arrears, he didn't owe - part two

 

• Tortured for child support arrears, he didn't owe - part two
• Tortured for child support arrears, he didn't owe - part three
• Tortured for child support arrears, he didn't owe - part four

• Family Rights 101: Why is there a fathers rights movement?
• Family Rights 101: Where can I learn more and hear victim stories?
• SUPPORT? System Down Documentary