2 Men Arrested After Allegedly Attempting to Swap Places to Defraud Paternity Test

Two Michigan men were arraigned earlier this month on charges of tampering with evidence after they allegedly attempted to swap places to defraud a paternity test.

Mark McCracken of Clinton Township, Mich., and Derek Harrison of Roseville, Mich., were arraigned on the charges after the two allegedly tried to undermine a DNA paternity test, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido announced on Thursday, Dec. 18.

McCracken, 34, and Harrison, 36, allegedly attempted to have Harrison impersonate McCracken for the court-ordered DNA paternity test. On Sept. 12, Harrison signed in at the Macomb County Administration Building as McCracken and subsequently submitted a DNA sample, misrepresenting himself as McCracken, the MCPO said in a statement.

Harrison was arraigned on Dec. 1, and McCracken on Dec. 10. They are both charged with Tampering with Evidence, which is a four-year felony in Michigan.

The MCPO said McCracken and Harrison each have "habitual offender fourth offense notices," which could result in a sentence of up to 15 years if they're convicted.

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

PEOPLE has reached out to the MPCO for comment.

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It is unclear at this time how investigators determined the attempted DNA swap, and why the court ordered a paternity test to begin with.

Harrison and McCracken are currently in custody at the Macomb County Jail.