Cherokee Nation father won't be extradited in custody case

Thursday, October 3, 2013  

Cherokee Nation father Dusten Brown won't be extradited to South Carolina but could still face a criminal charge there as part of a custody dispute over his daughter.

Brown was due to appear at an extradition hearing in Oklahoma court today. But South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) dropped the extradition request since Brown handed over his daughter to a non-Indian couple.

A charge of custodial interference, however, hasn't been dropped. So it's possible Brown could be arrested if he ever goes to South Carolina.

“The charge apparently still stands at this time in South Carolina," Robert Nigh, one of Brown’s lawyers, told the Associated Press. “He of course does not want to face criminal charges in South Carolina.”

Get the Story:
SC gov dropping extradition fight against father of Cherokee girl; could still face a charge (AP 10/2)
Haley drops effort to extradite Dusten Brown from Oklahoma in Veronica case (The Charleston Post and Courier 10/3)
Extradition warrant dropped, but Dusten Brown could still face legal issues in South Carolina (The Tulsa World 10/3)

Oklahoma Supreme Court Decision:
Brown v. DeLapp (September 23, 2013)

U.S. Supreme Court Decision:
Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl (June 25, 2013)

Cherokee Nation and father face fines in South Carolina court (9/26)
Oklahoma governor doesn't want Cherokee man extradited (9/25)
Cherokee Nation father hands daughter to non-Indian couple (9/24)
Court holds second day of hearings in Cherokee custody case (9/18)
Oklahoma court hears custody dispute involving Cherokee girl (9/16)
Christian evangelicals support adoptive couple in ICWA case (9/13)
Scott Starr: Conservative politics affect Cherokee ICWA case (9/12)
UN official urges consideration of culture in adoption dispute (9/11)
Cherokee Nation father files second appeal in adoption dispute (9/9)