Commonwealth v. Krouse

DITTER, J.,

The issue before us is whether a court has the inherent power to commit a father to prison for refusing to comply with a temporary support order. We believe it does.

On May 20, 1969, a temporary order of support was entered against defendant, Dr. Theodore B. Krouse, under the terms of which he was required to pay $185 per week to his former wife for the maintenance of their two minor children. As a result of defendant’s refusing to make any payments in accordance with the order,1 he was committed to the Montgomery *537County Prison on September 11, 1969. Having paid the arrearages,…