Opinion ID: 783026
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act

Text: 17 Ventre contends that subsection (d) of the IPKCA prohibits a conviction under subsection (a) under the facts of this case. Ventre was convicted of subsection (a) of the IPKCA, which declares that [w]hoever removes a child from the United States or retains a child (who has been in the United States) outside the United States with intent to obstruct the lawful exercise of parental rights shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both. IPKCA, 18 U.S.C. § 1204(a). Ventre admits that he brought the child to Italy in an attempt to interfere with Dykstra's custody rights. However, Ventre argues that the district court lacked jurisdiction to convict him because the IPKCA's application is limited by subsection (d), which provides that [t]his section does not detract from the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Parental Child Abduction, done at the Hague on October 25, 1980. More specifically, Ventre argues that the indictment cannot stand because he participated in Hague Convention proceedings in Italy, and as such, federal proceedings would detract from the Hague Convention.