Ongoing Drama for Baby Veronica

In a case sure to be studied from many angles for years, the contested custody battle over the little girl known as Baby Veronica” took a criminal turn in early August when a felony warrant for custodial interference was issued for Dusten Brown, Baby Veronica’s biological father.

I recently discussed the U.S. Supreme Court decision that returned the matter to the South Carolina court system for reconsideration after the Supreme Court found that the adoption of Baby Veronica did not fall under the jurisdiction of the Indian Child Welfare Act. Mr. Brown had terminated his parental rights to Baby Veronica prior to her birth.

Following the Supreme Court decision, rapidly unfolding events took place, leading to the present criminal charges against Mr. Brown:

• Mr. Brown applied to the Supreme Court to stay action by the South Carolina state court while he appealed on several fronts, including his own Oklahoma action to adopt Baby Veronica and his renewed attempts to adopt Baby Veronica in South Carolina. A Cherokee tribal court awarded joint legal custody to the parents of Mr. Brown and the wife of Mr. Brown.

• The Supreme Court declined the renewed application of Mr. Brown, and a South Carolina family court finalized the adoption of Baby Veronica by Matt and Melanie Capobianco. A transition plan was canceled when Mr. Brown failed to appear as ordered with Baby Veronica.

• On Facebook, Robin Brown, the wife of Dusten Brown, stated that Mr. Brown expects to be arrested when he returns to an Iowa military base as a member of the Oklahoma National Guard.

This bitter adoption matter remains unsettled, and one wonders about the best interests of Baby Veronica. If you have questions about adoption or custody matters, speak with an experienced family law attorney.