2 Metro Detroit Men Charged In Paternity Test Scheme: Prosecutor

MACOMB COUNTY, MI — Two Macomb County men are facing charges after they tried defrauding a paternity test, according to the prosecutor's office.

Mark McCracken, 34, of Clinton Township, and Derek Harrison, 36, of Roseville, were each charged with tampering with evidence (4-year felony). They were both placed in the Macomb County Jail.

Both of them also have habitual offender fourth offense notices, an aggravating sentencing factor that could result in a prison sentence of up to 15 years if convicted.

Prosecutors said McCracken arranged to have Harrison pose as him during a court ordered DNA paternity test.

On Sept. 12, prosecutors said Harrison signed in at the Macomb County Administration Building as McCracken and subsequently submitted his DNA representing himself as McCracken.

The test was ordered to determine whether McCracken was the father of 2-year-old Taliah, the daughter of Icess Hardin, who told WXYZ that she has had an on-again, off-again relationship with McCracken.

Hardin also told the news station that McCracken wanted nothing to do with Taliah.

"He just said he didn't want his wife to know about her and that he didn't want anything to do with her. He's married now — he wasn't married when he got me pregnant," Hardin told WXYZ.

When the DNA test results showed that McCracken was not Taliah's father, Hardin told prosecutors that's impossible. So they checked the administration building's video to see who signed in and Harding told prosecutors it wasn't McCracken, Fox 2 Detroit reports.

"The allegations in this matter are truly outrageous," Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said. "As many know, Macomb County takes matters of child support extremely seriously, and this case will receive the full attention it warrants."