Hiram Monserrate is so deep in debt he wants to stiff his autistic son and ex-wife on child support, the Daily News has learned.
The disgraced ex-pol - who can't even cover his legal bills - has asked Manhattan Family Court to "modify" his monthly payments to his 14-year-old kid, his former wife said.
"He's trying to use his son's child support to write off his other debts," Janet Monserrate, 40, said Wednesday. "He has no attachment to anyone; he only cares about his ego."
Monserrate, 43, pleaded poverty last month to Family Court Magistrate Karen Kolomechuk, stating that his sole income has been a $26,000 police pension since he was kicked out of the state Senate after his misdemeanor conviction for assaulting his girlfriend, Karla Giraldo.
He also claimed a bad back has kept him from finding work.
Kolomechuk initially denied the ex-cop's request. But then she agreed to consider it at a hearing this month, asking Monserrate to bring tax forms, medical proof of his injury and other paperwork in support of lowered payments.
Currently, Monserrate pays $1,100 a month in child support.
His ex-wife said if his payment modification request is granted, the new child support based on his pension would drop to about $400 a month.
"He's not looking for employment," Janet Monserrate said.
"This is a man who cares mainly about what people think. He won't work in a Home Depot, he won't work at a supermarket, he won't work two, three jobs to pay child support."
Monserrate's life has spiraled downward financially and professionally since his assault conviction.
Court records show Monserrate owns a $130,000 apartment with a $74,000 mortgage, and owes $14,000 in credit card bills, $10,000 for a car lease, $8,000 instudent loans and $22,000 intaxes.
Monserrate was recently charged in Manhattan Federal Court with misusing $100,000 in tax dollars when he was a city councilman.
Joseph Tacopina - the high-powered lawyer who represented Monserrate in his assault case - had asked the judge to let taxpayer money pick up his legal tab because the ex-pol couldn't cover it.
The judge denied the request last month and gave Monserrate a court-appointed lawyer.
The former Queens politician and his wife divorced in 2006.
Janet Monserrate said she is still paying for his mistakes.
"I'm one step closer to poverty and living on welfare because he feels like slashing somebody's face off because he was jealous," she said.
"The bottom line is my son is getting penalized for something he did."
Monserrate declined to comment.
"It's a personal matter," he said.
sshifrel@nydailynews.com
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