A Plant City man is facing federal charges of international parental kidnapping after an indictment was returned by a grand jury. Jet Sern Law, 36, is accused of unlawfully removing his child from the United States in August, with the indictment suggesting Law intended to interfere with the parental rights of the child's mother. United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the charges, which could lead to Law serving up to three years in a federal prison if he is found guilty.
The Justice Department's press release indicates that while Law has been formally charged, it is important to remember that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The FBI was responsible to meticulously investigate the case before it was brought forward for prosecution by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.
The precise details surrounding the alleged kidnapping remain unclear, but international parental kidnapping is a federal crime in the United States under certain conditions. These include situations where a parent attempts to create legal obstacles to the other parent's right to custody or visitation by removing a child from the country or retaining a child abroad following an authorized visit. "This case was investigated by the FBI. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry," according to the official announcement found on the Justice Department's website.
