Dukes ordered to pay alimony

TAMPA --- After a contentious court hearing, a judge ordered Tampa Bay Devil Rays player Elijah Dukes to pay his estranged wife more than $3,300 a month in temporary alimony as their divorce goes forward.

Also at the hearing Monday, Dukes, who was taken off the Rays roster last month, acknowledged under oath that he had smoked marijuana. His wife, NiShea Gilbert Dukes, had accused him of using marijuana every day during their marriage and asked that he be tested for anabolic steroids and testosterone supplements as part of a question over custody of the children.

Hillsborough Circuit Judge Kevin Carey ordered Dukes to pay his wife $3,303 a month in temporary alimony. Dukes also said he would take a paternity test regarding his youngest child, though he did not dispute he is the father.

He said in court that he had just returned from a one-week health treatment in Houston to address his psychological and drug issues. NiShea Dukes asked the court for counseling for her son, whom she said had been affected by the controversy over Dukes and was "acting out."

Dukes has been under scrutiny since his wife accused him of threatening to kill her and her children.

Monday's hearing was contentious.

The judge had said he thought the hearing would take an hour. It took two hours, with the judge constantly telling them to hurry things up as attorneys on both sides argued back and forth. Dukes kept speaking up, drawing admonitions from the judge not to speak unless he was being asked a question.

-- Abbie VanSickle, Times staff writer

Photos: Elijah Dukes, top right, with attorney Peter Meros; inset, NiShea Gilbert Dukes; by Carrie Pratt | Times.

Comments

[Norcross]

If I remember correctly, Dukes doesn't even make $3300 a month. And that was before he was sent down. How can a judge order someone (sports figure or otherwise) to pay more child support than they make? While I certainly believe he should pay his share, that seems rather excessive. I support my wife and child on less money than that a month, and that includes things like student loan payments and whatnot.

[GB]

"He said in court that he had just returned from a one-week health treatment in Houston to address his psychological and drug issues."
WOW ONE whole week? Like 1 week can help address those issues? I truly doubt it. He couldn't even behave while in court, the judge had to tell him not to speak unless he was being asked a question. Some people just never learn.

Glad the Ray's got smart and took this loser off the roster. Children look up to sports figures and with behavior like Mr Dukes it let's our children know that behavior unbecoming will not be tolerated.

[JIm]

What a bum, he'll never pay. This guy will have 10 kids in a couple of years and the taxpayers will pay to raise them. bum

[loretta]

with meros as his attorney everyone should know that the client he represents is a crook, or an abuser