Harvey Updyke is a bit behind on his payments.
Updyke served six months in prison after poisoning the trees at Auburn's Toomer's Corner, but along with his jail sentence he was also ordered by a judge to pay $800,000 in restitution to the school. That money was to be paid $500 at a time in monthly payments, but according to documents, Updyke has only paid $99 of the $800,000 he owes so far.
The story was first reported by the Auburn student newspaper, The Plainsman, and verified by court documents reviewed by al.com.
Updyke was ordered to make the payments in December 2013, and since then he's sent in one payment of $100, but there was a $1 processing charge. He hasn't made a payment since.
Updyke's lawyer, Margaret Brown, requested that the payments be lowered from $500 to $50 a month, but that request was denied. Brown's attorney argued that Updyke's monthly gross income was $3,030 and that his expenses were $2,760 which made it impossible for him to make the $500 monthly payment.
Now, obviously Updyke will never be able to pay Auburn the full amount, not unless he sends $500 a month until he's 198 years old. But to have only sent $99 in the nine months since he was ordered to make the payments?
That's just ridiculous.
