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Well, it's not quite The Thorn Birds, but it does involve money, love, and religion: A judge ordered that a Brooklyn man stop his divinity studies and take up law again in order to pay child support for his two children. Simon Ajose, who gradudated from Columbia Law School, had fired from a $100,000 position at a law firm when he failed the bar exam. Even though he eventually passed, he decided not to file papers to become a lawyers and opted to study divinity instead. When his ex-wife Stephanie Lopez heard this, she thought, "You're kidding me." Ajose owes $40,000 in back payments, $875/month while he was at the law firm and less when he was fired (she had supported him while he was in law school; it seems like they might have split when he was working at the law firm). Judge Jeffrey Sunshine held Ajose in contempt for being "voluntarily unemployed." Take that church and state separation! But Judge Sunshine said that once Ajose is making a living and paying child support, he could go back to studying divinity.
Oh, and Ajose did represent himself in the case and told reporters, "I have done the best I possibly can to provide for them. I feel that nonmonetary contributions should be taken into account."
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875 a month for two kids isn't much. he doesn't have to practice law; he could certainly take 3 minimum wage jobs to come up with the money. i'm sure the judge would be good with that. also, a cessation of litigation would free up a lot of div studying time.
i'm curious about how he's paying for div school. it's not a whole hell of a lot cheaper than law school.
This sounds one sided. Any word on her/ex-wife carrier? Geoff
deadbeat jerk.
yeah my ex decided to become literally homeless for several years in his determination to not pay childsupport.He started to get back on his feet, go to college (he's 48) and now nanny's for his sister in CA. He just started paying childsupport 2.5 years ago a sum of $220 a month.
Now my daughter is 18, and has issues of self worth.
Oh yeah, to further the story my ex applied to be a Monk of the Carmelite Order as well. They denied his admission until after he takes ‘care’ of his daughter.
My name is Simon Ajose and I am the gentleman profiled in the article. If this whole situation wasn't extremely surreal I would be crying. The NY Daily News is a tabloid paper that sensationalizes situations to sell newspapers. My ex-wife took me to court in order to HURT me, not to get money for the children.
The facts are:
We divorced during my first year of law school. She paid none of my tuition for law school or undergrad.
At the time we divorced I was a stay-at-home dad while she pursued her six-figure salary career in the entertainment industry.
I worked at the $100,000 law firm for 10 months in 2001/2002. Those jobs are not a dime-a-dozen. With law school grads coming out of the tops schools in droves every year those high-paying legal jobs are impossible to get after you've been fired from one.
I entered divinity school in 2004. THREE years after leaving the law firm. I worked as a paralegal on and off in the interim. I did not leave the law firm to enter divinity school.
My "non-monetary contributions" include being available for my sons while their mother travels around the world. As a very well-compensated record executive she is rarely home with the children. I have ALWAYS been there for them.
I do NOT owe $40,000 in child support. My ex-wife threw everything including the kitchen sink into her complaint against me.
Why would a private citizen, as myself, be put up to such scorn and ridicule? That is a question for this arena.
Please, People. Don't believe everything you read in the Press or see on TV. The only things that are keeping me sane during this time is God's presence in my life (notwithstanding all the mockery form the people posting), the support of my family and friends, and the simple words of my sons, who told me, "Don't worry Dad. WE know you're not a deadbeat."
Plus, couldn't he be disbarred for owing back-child support?
Child support is not optional. If the children are living a good life now (thanks to mom pursuing her career), they'd be living an even better life if he paid up. What's wrong with giving your children the best life you can afford. FYI Mr. Ajose, nonmonetary support is called PARENTING. You can't babysit your own children.
Besides, it is reported that Mr. Ajose is a chronic freeloader. In fact, he has reportedly been engaged several times. Each ended when the woman realized that he was a freeloader or when Mr. Ajose realized that there was no free ride. It's ironic that he could be morally unfit to be a lawyer but still be ordained as a pastor.
Simon,
Keep your head up. Some of us don't believe the hype.
To Joseph and others knowing Simon Ajose:
You have a recent comment on this story that was published last year. I was looking up info on Simon Ajose because he is in a "serious" relationship with someone very dear to me and I became suspicious of this man. I enjoy Mr. Ajose's company, faith and goodwill. I have met the children and they are well behaved and polite. Any further light you can shed on prior relationships/engagements? What about sexuality?
I am further concerned about freeloading behavior.
Please post any available information.