Albert Burditt owes more than $183,000 in unpaid child support; is subject to criminal prosecution
PRESS RELEASE
AUSTIN – A former University of Texas at Austin Longhorns basketball player was arrested Tuesday at the Travis County courthouse for failing to support two Williamson County children. Albert Burditt, 37, owes more than $183,000 in unpaid child support. He faces prosecution by the Williamson County District Attorney’s Office on two state jail felony criminal nonsupport charges.
Burditt played for the University of Texas from 1991 to 1994. Though he was drafted by the Houston Rockets in 1994, he immediately signed with a European team. In 2009, he played professional basketball in Mexico.
Burditt is being held in Austin at the Travis County Jail, where he awaits transfer to Williamson County to face the criminal charges.
In 1999, Burditt, based on his earnings as a professional basketball player, was ordered to pay $1,200 per month for the support of his daughter, now 18. After repeated violations of the civil court order, an investigator from the Attorney General’s Child Support Division presented the case to Williamson County for criminal prosecution. Due to missed payments and interest that accrues on the past due balance, Burditt now owes more than $126,800 for the care of this child. Burditt also will be prosecuted for failing to provide $56,600 in support for the care of a 12-year-old son.
A criminal nonsupport conviction carries a penalty of up to two years in a state jail and a fine of up to $10,000.
The Attorney General’s Child Support Division is responsible for establishing and enforcing civil child support orders. Attorney General Abbott fosters cooperation between his office and local prosecutors, who have the ability to pursue criminal penalties against parents who have the financial capacity to care for their children, yet steadfastly refuse to make court-ordered child support payments.
