Jura Three months suspended prison sentence for kidnapping their own daughter

“We left on a whim, to rebuild our lives elsewhere…” An admittedly summary explanation but which serves as a first justification for this 53-year-old Charentais, now residing in Dijon, who appeared on Friday February 4 at the helm of the criminal court of Lons-le-Saunier for “removal of a child from the hands of those in charge of his custody and detention outside France”.

The formula is pithy and, alone at the helm, the man, in a “propulsive and abundant” discourse, tries to circumvent it. Certainly, he recognizes and regrets the facts – committed with his companion – for which they are accused. But we feel that it is the administrative machine and the judicial machine that he wants. And particularly those of the Jura.

The couple were jailed in Spain

The facts date back to May 10, 2019, the day the couple’s daughter, then 3 years old, was not returned to the Maison des Solidarités where the parents had obtained visitation rights for their little girl then placed with a family. welcome in the Jura. Several clues and testimonies show that the couple had prepared their departure for Spain.

A few days later, following the report of the county council, two European arrest warrants were issued and allowed their arrest in Catalonia. The spouses were imprisoned in Spain and then transferred to the Perpignan remand center. And the child was entrusted again to his foster family in the Jura.

Both parents sentenced

These facts, the defendant recognizes them and regrets them. He does not hide that his dearest wish was to bring together a family, a real family, certainly blended, around a table “to see their children again and talk to them as in a real family”.

While the public prosecutor had requested a one-year prison sentence with an eight-month suspended sentence, the court sentenced the two parents to a three-month suspended prison sentence each.

Today, the couple does not live in Spain. But in Dijon where he settled and took new steps to unite all his children around him.

According to our editorial charter, the identity of the defendant, found guilty, is published if his sentence is greater than or equal to six months in prison or 18 months suspended.