565.153. Parental kidnapping--penalty. - Missouri Statutes

Parental kidnapping--penalty.

565.153. 1. In the absence of a court order determining rights ofcustody or visitation to a child, a person having a right of custody of thechild commits the crime of parental kidnapping if he removes, takes,detains, conceals, or entices away that child within or without the state,without good cause, and with the intent to deprive the custody right ofanother person or a public agency also having a custody right to thatchild.

2. Parental kidnapping is a class D felony, unless committed bydetaining or concealing the whereabouts of the child for:

(1) Not less than sixty days but not longer than one hundred nineteendays, in which case, the crime is a class C felony;

(2) Not less than one hundred twenty days, in which case, the crimeis a class B felony.

3. A subsequently obtained court order for custody or visitationshall not affect the application of this section.

(L. 1988 H.B. 1272, et al. § 2, A.L. 2008 S.B. 714, et al.)