Utah Code 76-5-301.2. Parental kidnapping

76-5-301.2. Parental kidnapping.

(1)

Have a question?
Click here to chat with a criminal defense lawyer and protect your rights.

Bodily injury: means physical pain, illness, or any impairment of physical condition. See Utah Code 76-1-101.5
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5

(a)

As used in this section:

(i)	“Child” means an individual under 18 years old.

(ii)	“Custody” means court-ordered physical custody of a child entered by a court.

(iii)

“Parent” means an individual:

(A)	recognized as a biological parent or adoptive parent; or

(B)	that has established a parent-child relationship under Section 78B-15-201.

(iv)	“Parent-time” means court-ordered parent-time or visitation entered by a court.

(b)	Terms defined in Section 76-1-101.5 apply to this section.

(2)

A parent commits parental kidnapping of the parent’s child if the parent:

(a)	takes, entices, conceals, detains, or withholds the child from an individual entitled to custody of the child;

(b)	intends to interfere with the custody of the child; and

(c)

(i)	has never had a right to physical custody of the child;

(ii)	has never been granted parent-time with the child;

(iii)

has had all rights to physical custody of the child terminated by a court; or

(iv)	at the time of the parent’s action under Subsection (2)(a), had parent-time with the child terminated or suspended by a court.

(3)

(a)	A violation of Subsection (2) is a third degree felony.

(b)	Notwithstanding Subsection (3)(a), a violation of Subsection (2) is a second degree felony if, during the course of parental kidnapping, the parent removes, causes the removal, or directs the removal of the child from the state.

(4)

In addition to the affirmative defenses described in Section 76-5-305, it is an affirmative defense to the crime of parental kidnapping that:

(a)

the parent acted under a reasonable belief that the action described in Subsection (2)(a) was:

(i)	necessary to protect the child from imminent serious bodily injury, or death;

(ii)	authorized by law; or

(iii)

taken with the consent of:

(A)	the individual entitled to custody of the child; or

(B)	a custodian, guardian, caretaker, or other individual lawfully acting in place of the individual entitled to custody of the child; or

(b)

(i)	the parent acted under a reasonable belief that the action described in Subsection (2)(a) was necessary to protect the child from abuse, including sexual abuse; and

(ii)	before taking the action described in Subsection (2)(a), the parent reports to law enforcement the parent’s intention to engage in the action and the basis for the parent’s belief described in Subsection (4)(b)(i).

Enacted by Chapter 125, 2023 General Session