Custody interference and parental kidnapping would carry felony penalties

Taking or luring someone away from court-ordered custody would carry a class E felony. This covers anyone placed by a court in another person's or an institution's custody. The person taking or luring someone away must know they have no legal right to do so. Removing that person from Missouri, holding them in another state, or hiding them would make the offense a class D felony.

Parental kidnapping would carry a class D felony, with other felony classes based on how long a child is held or hidden. This covers people with custody rights who take, hold, hide, or lure away a child inside or outside Missouri when no court order sets custody or visitation rights. The person must act without good cause and intend to deny another person or public agency its custody rights. Getting a custody or visitation order later would not prevent this rule from applying. The class C penalty would apply to holding or hiding a child for at least 60 days through 119 days. The class B penalty would apply at 120 days or more.