US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

      21-3422.   Interference with parental custody. (a) Interference with parental custody is leading, taking, carrying away, decoying or enticing away any child under the age of 16 years with the intent to detain or conceal such child from its parent, guardian, or other person having the lawful charge of such child.

      (b)   It is not a defense to a prosecution under this section that the defendant is a parent entitled to joint custody of the child either on the basis of a court order or by virtue of the absence of a court order.

      (c) (1)   Interference with parental custody is a class A person misdemeanor if the perpetrator is a parent entitled to joint custody of the child either on the basis of a court order or by virtue of the absence of a court order.

      (2)   Interference with parental custody is a severity level 10, person felony in all other cases.

      History:   L. 1969, ch. 180, § 21-3422; L. 1986, ch. 119, § 1; L. 1992, ch. 239, § 60; L. 1993, ch. 291, § 35; L. 1994, ch. 291, § 24; July 1.