45-5-634. Parenting interference. - Montana Statutes

     45-5-634. Parenting interference. (1) A person commits the offense of parenting interference if, knowing that the person has no legal right to do so, the person:
     (a) before the entry of a court order determining parenting rights, takes, entices, or withholds a child from the other parent when the action manifests a purpose to substantially deprive that parent of parenting rights; or
     (b) is one of two persons who has parenting authority of a child under a court order and takes, entices, or withholds the child from the other when the action manifests a purpose to substantially deprive the other parent of parenting rights.
     (2) A person convicted of the offense of parenting interference shall be imprisoned in the state prison for any term not to exceed 10 years or be fined an amount not to exceed $50,000, or both.
     (3) With respect to the first alleged commission of the offense only, a person who has not left the state does not commit an offense under this section if the person voluntarily returns the child before arraignment. With respect to the first alleged commission of the offense only, a person who has left the state does not commit an offense under this section if the person voluntarily returns the child before arrest.

     History: En. Sec. 35, Ch. 343, L. 1997.