A Lincoln County man was sentenced Monday for his failure to pay $18,000 in child support, Attorney General Jim Hood announced today.

Doyce Navada Walley, 47, pleaded guilty to felony failure to pay child support before Lincoln County Circuit Court Judge Michael Taylor. He admitted that he has failed to pay $18,000 in past due child support.

Taylor sentenced Walley to five years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections with five years suspended on supervised probation, so that he could pay the $18,000 he owes, Hood said in a press release. Walley will be required to pay at least $300 monthly in arrears. Taylor also ordered Walley to pay all costs of court, as well as a $100 fine.

“This prosecution represents our strong commitment to the children in our state who deserve the financial support of their parents and we thank Judge Taylor for reminding our deadbeat parents that there is no hiding place from their responsibilities in Mississippi,” said Hood.

The case was investigated by Kynda Walker and prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Kimberly Purdie of the Attorney General’s Child Desertion Unit.