Detective seeks to settle collection suit
Staff writer
Sheriff’s detective Aaron Christner, being sued for $7,246.49 plus costs and interest owed on a Capital One credit card, hopes to settle the case against him without a court judgment and garnishment on his wages.
A petition to collect the debt was filed in court Dec. 23.
On Jan. 30, the day the case was set for Christner to answer in court, Lawrence lawyer Michael Grear sent a letter to Capital One’s lawyer, Kyle Custer of Overland Park, asking that Christner be allowed to pay $50 a month toward the bill. Grear was careful to point out he is not representing Christner in the case.
“Please be advised that at this time we are only assisting Mr. Christner on a limited scope basis in an effort to resolve this matter without a trial,” Grear wrote in the letter. “At this time, neither myself, nor anyone else in the firm, has agreed to enter our appearance in this case.”
Grear wrote that Christner was not attempting to avoid his obligation and that his current financial situation didn’t permit him to issue a full payment on the debt.
Christner was attempting to avoid having a judgment and garnishment order filed against him, Grear wrote.
“He is requesting that you accept monthly payments of $50 per month until this debt is fully paid or he is able to make larger payments,” Grear’s letter reads.
A hearing in the case is scheduled for Feb. 20. According to a notice of hearing filed in court, if Christner fails to appear in court on that day, a default judgment may be entered against him.
He earns $4,000 a month as a lieutenant with the sheriff’s department. He received a $360 a month raise Nov. 21 when he was promoted to “detective lieutenant.”