Singer Bobby Brown faces arrest over child support

BOSTON, Oct 4 (Reuters) A Massachusetts judge has issued an arrest warrant for singer Bobby Brown after he failed to show up at a hearing on overdue child support payments for two of his children, a court official said.

The singer, who is in the process of getting a divorce from singer-actor Whitney Houston, had been expected yesterday to turn up at court in Canton, Massachusetts on Monday for the hearing on payments to Kim Ward, mother of two of his children.

Ward says Brown is overdue on two months of child support.

Patrick McDermott, an official in Norfolk District Court, confirmed that Brown was overdue on ,000 and that an arrest warrant had been issued by judge Paula Carey.

Brown surrendered last year to the same court after an arrest warrant was issued.

''If he were to come into Massachusetts, I don't know, let's say to a Patriots (football) game, he would be arrested,'' said McDermott, referring to the New England Patriots.

Attorneys for both parties could not be immediately reached for comment.

Last month, after a series of domestic disputes and drug-related problems, Brown's wife, R&B singer Whitney Houston filed for a divorce.

Brown, a Boston native, reached fame with the group New Edition and for his 1988 solo album ''Don't be Cruel.'' Lately, Brown has staged a comeback as the star of his own television show: ''Being Bobby Brown''.

REUTERS PDM RK0958