Some minor children were arrested on charges of killing swans and geese in a Kansas zoo. These are felony charges, including animal cruelty.

The youths are in juvenile justice detention and could remain there for some time.

Accordingly, the government has requested that the parents of the juveniles pay child support to save the taxpayers the cost of supporting the youths while they are in detention.

If this seems strange, it shouldn’t. It is not unusual to to require the non-indigent parents of minor children to pay support while their kids are in the extended care of the government.

Read more in this Kansas Emporia Gazette article: Parents are asked to pay support for juvenile suspects in zoo case.