US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

568.175. 1. A person, partnership, corporation, agency, association, institution, society or other organization commits the crime of trafficking in children if he or it offers, gives, receives or solicits any money, consideration or other thing of value for the delivery or offer of delivery of a child to another person, partnership, corporation, agency, association, institution, society or other organization for purposes of adoption, or for the execution of a consent to adopt or waiver of consent to future adoption or a consent to termination of parental rights.

2. A crime is not committed under this section if the money, consideration or thing of value or conduct is permitted under chapter 453, RSMo, relating to adoption.

3. The crime of trafficking in children is a class C felony.

(L. 1985 H.B. 366, et al. § 1, A.L. 1997 H.B. 343)

CROSS REFERENCE: Application of law to adoption petitions filed on or after August 28, 1997, RSMo 453.012

(1988) Section 568.175, RSMo, prohibits delivery of a child to the person offering the money as well as to a third party as the phrase "to another person" means a person other than the one who has control of and is to deliver the child. State v. Daugherty, 744 S.W.2d 849 (Mo.App.S.D.).