Jackson, MS - A Guntown mother has answered in court for failure to support her two children, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today.

Judy Harmon, age 44, of Guntown, MS, pleaded guilty and was sentenced today for Felony Non-Support of her two children before Clay County Circuit Court Judge Lee Coleman.

Judge Coleman sentenced Harmon concurrently as to each count, five years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, suspended, with five years of Post Release Supervision, non-adjudication.  The Judge also ordered and the defendant paid today $5,000 toward her back child support plus court costs.

During this sentence, Harmon is to pay an additional $250 a month on top of her regular child support obligation until her arrearage of $30,000 is paid in full. 

“It is a real shame when we have to force a mother to do what she is morally obligated to do for her own children,” said Attorney General Hood.  “We will prosecute deadbeat dads and deadbeat moms exactly the same.”

The Attorney General’s Child Desertion Unit under the leadership of Director and Special Assistant Attorney General Deshun T. Martin prosecuted this case.