Paternity claim against Commissioner Ings may hurt election

FLORIDA,None — WFTV found more information in the paternity claim against Orlando City Commissioner Sam Ings.

Ings has avoided WFTV's questions and calls.

Solethea Sparkes claims that he fathered a child with her while he was engaged to his wife, but he refused to accept responsibility.

"No financial support. We went to court, none at all. Not a dime or a dollar," said Sparkes.

Sparkes said she has a DNA paternity test on her side. The state said the test is 99.99 percent accurate.

Sparkes has a history of paternity claims. She said she received child support for her 20-year-old son from one father until he turned 18.

Sparkes also got support for a second son, who was 16 years old when he lived with her.

He's now with his father.

Sparkes has been arrested once for disorderly conduct in Coconut Grove, but she had a good record in Broward County, where she worked as a teacher.

Her claims now threaten to disrupt the District 6 election.

"Do you think it may impact your vote?" asked WFTV reporter George Spencer.

"Probably," said Ings supporter Florence Saint Clair.

The results for the second paternity test, which the baby and Ings took on Monday, should be back in five to eight days.

Once the DNA paternity test results are back, the judge will have to schedule a hearing to determine the child support dispute.