Colleges

Moffitt tells court he supports family

By GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published January 15, 2008

Ben Moffitt with his son Trevor, 4, and daughter Rylan, 3.
	[Chris Livingston | Special to the Times]

BUSHNELL - Former USF linebacker Ben Moffitt has not commented publicly since filing for divorce Jan. 3, but Sumter County court records show documents and sworn testimony that dispute some of the main allegations made against him by his wife, Shauna.

Ben Moffitt provided the court with receipts that show $900 in cash deposits to the family's joint checking account, a $270 payment on the family's Chevy Colorado, as well as a $140 grocery run Nov. 28. Shauna had accused him of not doing "anything" to financially support his wife and two young children since leaving them Nov. 11.

Moffitt said his fall scholarship checks for housing, food and clothing allowance - totaling $5,470.50 - were all deposited into their account before the separation. With no additional income, he said he took loans from family members to deposit for his family after the separation.

His sworn affidavit addressed the issue of Moffitt's limited contact with his children since the separation. He said under oath that the access he has sought to his children has been limited by his wife.

"I have always been a very active, involved father, but since our separation ... my wife has consistently refused to allow me or my family members an opportunity to see the children," reads Moffitt's affidavit, given Jan. 4.

And he said Shauna has allowed him to see his children about four times for short periods, along with one overnight visit. Shauna, who did not return a call seeking comment Monday, has maintained that the children were always available to see their father.

A hearing scheduled for today on the dissolution of their marriage was postponed until Feb. 19 after Tampa attorney Erin Collins Cullaro on Friday withdrew as Shauna's counsel. Cullaro said the decision involved her wanting Shauna to have representation from closer to Bushnell.

Ben's attorney, A.J. Rohe, said that the two sides agreed Friday to a temporary custody agreement that calls for primary custody to alternate between the parents each week until their hearing. Each parent will have visitation rights while the children are staying with the other parent.

Moffitt's testimony did not address Shauna's admission that she had written papers and taken two online classes for him.

[Last modified January 15, 2008, 01:40:49]