In Saint Louis and other areas in the Midwest, divorce can bring about some of the most contentious and emotional issues. Take, for example, child custody disputes. While parents should be focused on the needs and best interests of the child or children involved in the divorce process, the reality is that children could be improperly used to be hurtful and spiteful against an ex. In other cases, a parent may fight to keep a child with them because they truly believe that would serve their best interests. No matter the reason, when a child custody dispute arises and a custody order is violated, dire consequences can arise, as seen in one recent case.
There, a man from Aurora was charged with child abduction. This charge stemmed from a supposed child custody dispute that occurred last month. It is unclear if this dispute was related to the holidays that recently occurred. Preliminary reports indicate that the 48-year-old man was arrested and charged with two counts of child abduction, which is a class four felony.
Authorities learned that the man was ordered by a judge to turn over the custody of his young child. However, the man supposedly left the courthouse with the child, which was against judge’s orders. Law enforcement was able to locate the child and transfer custody of the child. This resulted in the arrest of the father and his charge for child abduction. No further details regarding the matter have been reported at this time.
Being accused of child abduction is a serious matter. However, the basis of these allegations may not be selfish. In other words, a parent may have actively violated the terms of a custody order because he or she believes that the child was in harm’s way, requiring them to take action. No matter the cause of these allegations or a child custody dispute, it is important that a parent understands their rights and options to work toward a resolution to these matters.
