Mercedes Auctioned for Support Payments

Jack Abikzer was living the high life, tooling around Los Angeles in his Mercedes, shelling out $1,194 a month in car payments, authorities said.

Meanwhile in New Jersey, his ex-wife, struggling to make ends meet, was unable to make tuition payments for the couple’s son, who was about to get thrown out of the private school he was attending, authorities said.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office caught up with 52-year-old Abikzer, who ran an upscale catering business. When it was over, Abikzer had to bid his car goodbye.

The 1990 Mercedes 560 SEL, valued at $37,000, was auctioned off Tuesday at a Canoga Park towing yard for $15,186.13, Deputy Dist. Atty. Mark Goldman said. The money--minus the $3,644 Abikzer still owed on the car--will go to pay off $216,000 in unpaid child and spousal support, Goldman said.

Three people entered bids for the car, Goldman said. “We were hoping to get $17,000 to $18,000,” he said. “But every little bit helps, as long as the child gets money.”

Abikzer must continue to pay child and spousal support.

The couple divorced in 1991 and the ex-wife--whom Goldman declined to identify--moved with the child to New Jersey in 1993, he said. Last year, authorities said, Abikzer was found to be in violation of his probation stemming from a 1993 conviction for failing to pay court-ordered child and spousal support.

The car, Goldman said, was seized in November. Instead of serving 180 days in jail, Goldman said, Abikzer will be allowed to continue working while being electronically monitored.