In Vermont, Woman Convicted of International Parental Kidnaping

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on July 12, 2007, Michelle Favreau, 39, of Omerville, Quebec, Canada, and Shaftsbury, Vermont, was convicted of one count of International Parental Kidnaping after a two day trial. The trial was held in the United States District Court in Burlington with the Honorable William K. Sessions, III presiding. No date was set for sentencing.

Testimony at trial established that Miller, who was divorced from the father of their son in 1997, prevented the father from exercising his visitation rights from 2000 until the present. In doing so, she repeatedly moved the child until she finally took the six-old boy across the border to Omerville, Quebec, in 2001.

As part of the original divorce order, the Bennington Family Court awarded the father extensive visiting rights, while the defendant was given sole custody. Jurisdiction was eventually transferred to Massachusetts. There, the Berkshire County Family Court ordered that the father have visitation rights. Despite two court orders granting visitation, the defendant disappeared in the Spring of 2001, with their son. The father then asked the Bennington Family Court for sole custody, which was awarded to him in August 2002.

The father testified at trial about the strong bond he had with his son, who he has not seen in seven years. He talked about boating and snowmobiling with his active and bright child. The defendant made claims that she had been in an abusive marriage and that she fled the United States out of fear of her ex-husband. The father and several witnesses denied the allegations of abuse. According to testimony in trial, the child, now 13 years old, remains in Canada.

Court documents reflect that the defendant returned to the United States in January, 2006, after opposing extradition from Canada for two and one-half years. She has been held in civil contempt by the Bennington Family Court since her return for failing to comply with the Vermont Court’s orders. In July, 2006, she pleaded guilty in Bennington District Court to State charges of misdemeanor criminal contempt.

The jury deliberated about six hours before returning the guilty verdict.