TULSA, Okla., Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin signed an order to extradite a man to South Carolina as part of a custody battle with his daughter's adoptive parents.
Dusten Brown, the father, has been fighting a South Carolina couple, Matt and Melanie Capobianco, over the custody of 3-year-old "Baby Veronica."
The child's birth mother put her up for adoption, and Brown, a member of the Cherokee Nation, has fought the adoption under the Indian Child Welfare Act.
Fallin, saying Brown was not acting in good faith, signed the order Wednesday saying he must go to South Carolina to face charges of custodial interference, the Tulsa (Okla.) World reported.
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"My goal in the Baby Veronica case has been to encourage both Mr. Brown and the Capobianco family to reach a quick settlement and come to an agreement that protects Veronica's best interests," Fallin said in a statement. "I said previously that I was willing to delay Mr. Brown's extradition to South Carolina as long as all parties were working together in good faith to pursue such a settlement," Fallin said.
"Unfortunately, it has become clear that Dusten Brown is not acting in good faith. He has disobeyed an Oklahoma court order to allow the Capobianco's to visit their adopted daughter and continues to deny visitation. He is acting in open violation of both Oklahoma and South Carolina courts, which have granted custody of Veronica to the Capobiancos. Finally, he has cut off negotiations with the Capobiancos and shown no interest in pursuing any other course than yet another lengthy legal battle," she added.
