This is the danger of trying to get your child back on your own...

[todez]

http://g1.globo.com/sao-paulo/noticia/2011/07/policia-prende-norte-americano-suspeito-de-sequestrar-filha-em-sp.html


It tells of an American father who went down to Brazil to bring back his daughter who was taken to Brazil in 2006.  The article doesn't mention if the Brazilian mother kidnapped the child to Brazil.

[StrngConviction]

Really wished I could speak Portuguese .
What was the result of him going there ? Anyone ?

[ProudDaddy]

Really wished I could speak Portuguese .
What was the result of him going there ? Anyone ?

Here goes a simple translation. Keep in mind:

- Guararema is a small town, some 200 miles from Sao Paulo
- Mogi das Cruzes is a bigger neighbor city, with better facilities
- the US Consulate is based in Sao Paulo (and it is HUGE)
- the US Embassy is based in the Capital, Brasília, some 1000 miles from Guararema


Police arrests American in SP suspect of faking documents

He also tried to kidnap his 7-yo daughter, according to ex-wife
Police says a diary was found with plan to get out of the country with the girl

Monday's night (11) in Guararema, on Greater SP, police arrested a 56-year American photographer suspect of faking of public document. The officers found clues that he planned to kidnap and take to Salt Lake City his 7 years old daughter. He lost her custody back in 2010. The man was transferred to Mogi das Cruzes and the case will also be investigated by Federal Police.

The girls' mother, who lived with the man in the US until 2006 told G1 that he conceived a plan to kidnap the girl. According to her, the man has criminal background in the US and could only see the girls under supervision.

Knowing that the girl was under the grandmother's supervision during the visit, he planned to run away with the girl by the back entrance of a bakery in the city, said the woman. Hours before the visitation, he stole the bakery's keys. The employees noticed his presence and the disappearance of the keys.

Checking the surveillance video they called the cops, who determined that the man was driving a rented car with plates stolen from another car. Inside the vehicle they also found a diary where the American detailed the escape plan.

"My mother kept certain distance to given them some privacy. In the bakery there is a door leading to the street. He stole the key which was within the door to take the girl, get in the car and run away. The car itself was not stolen but he stole the plates from another car two days ago, in order to confuse police" say the girl's mother."

According to the woman, who was summoned to the police station to corroborate the authenticity of the documents found with the man along his passport, the ex-husband described with detail how he faked US and Brazilian documents.

"He faked documents such as travel authorization for minors. He described how to arrive at Guararema and how he planned to reach the American Embassy. He planned to say that my daughter had forgotten her knapsack in a cab with her US passport inside and also he needed an emergency authorization to leave the country. In the diary he told that he already had gone personally to the Consulate and showed to them a fake divorce document, stating that he had the custody of the girl. He was told by the Consulate staff that he needed to bring in the documents and the girl in person in order to have another passport, in one or two hours."

Both met when she was an student in the US and she used to be a customer to his photo studio. This is the 2nd time the American  pays a visit to Guararema. "I am afraid of him leaving the jail and going after me and my daughter. He has a history of being violent and carrying guns in the US."

[a.marcos]

no, the mother did not kidnapped the child,she had the custody,and the father could not see the girl alone because his a violent man,he also tried to falsificate documents,americans and brazilian, to try to leave Brazil with the girl ...he even went to U.S consulate,he said his kid had lost her passaport and documents,and he wanted an emergency passaport,the consulate almost believe him

[AnotherDad]

Although we still do not know the facts of this case and we won't get them from the Brazilian media or from the mother or from the authorities there, everybody here has always known that it is very dangerous to go and take your kids on your own from any country. Certainly Brazil would love to make an example out of an American taking the law into their own hands in an abduction case. It seems like many in Brazilian govt now feel they got burned and embarrassed in the Goldman case and plan to make it even harder for people to get their kids out of the country for the foreseeable future. This story about the photographer smells very fishy.

[ProudDaddy]

Although we still do not know the facts of this case and we won't get them from the Brazilian media or from the mother or from the authorities there, everybody here has always known that it is very dangerous to go and take your kids on your own from any country. Certainly Brazil would love to make an example out of an American taking the law into their own hands in an abduction case. It seems like many in Brazilian govt now feel they got burned and embarrassed in the Goldman case and plan to make it even harder for people to get their kids out of the country for the foreseeable future. This story about the photographer smells very fishy.

I don't see it that way. Most probably he will seat in jail for a brief period, until heard by a judge, then will be expelled. This is what usually happen to foreigners who break the law. And certainly the US consulate has been notified, as the Federal Police is involved.

[AnotherDad]

You may be right about what they do to this man, and even if that is all that happens to him, it sounds like being expelled would prevent him from being able to go back and fight for his daughter legally in the future, which is still a terrible outcome for him. We still do not know the story of this man or the familiar sounding claims of the Brazilian woman about the man's violence, etc. No matter what, nothing good can come of trying to go commando in Brazil, or Japan, or (God forbid) Mexico, etc.. At best, you get expelled from the country without your kids, and at worst you could get killed trying.

[ProudDaddy]

You may be right about what they do to this man, and even if that is all that happens to him, it sounds like being expelled would prevent him from being able to go back and fight for his daughter legally in the future, which is still a terrible outcome for him. We still do not know the story of this man or the familiar sounding claims of the Brazilian woman about the man's violence, etc. No matter what, nothing good can come of trying to go commando in Brazil, or Japan, or (God forbid) Mexico, etc.. At best, you get expelled from the country without your kids, and at worst you could get killed trying.

He would only be prevented to coming to Brazil again if his Brazilian visa is revoked. Probably he will be tagged by the Federal Police (which also controls the Immigration services) and upon arrival will to "chat" to the federal marshall on duty. But if he has supervised visitation rights, my guess is that a Brazilian judge granted that, so his visa should be OK. But you can also guess that the woman could go back to the judge and ask for the visitations be revoked, etc etc. You are right, it is difficult to understand the big picture from a small piece of news.

[Diane]

Abductors quickly learn to make outrageous, unsubstantiated charges against the left behind parent.  Look at these videos of Carlos  when he was visiting his son, last week,  (with a visitation order from the local courts!!!)

They were having a wonderful visit,  except for her crowding in next to them the whole time.  She has done this at every single visit.    Fortunately, his attorney was present and recorded the whole thing on video.  

 I would suggest never meeting with these abductors in private.   Her father,  who was ordered not to attend visitation is standing next to her   They are both trying to tell the police that he is trying to abduct his son, and to arrest Carlos),   even though no one was trying to take him anywhere except her.   There was an hour left on the visitation time.   There are four separate videos to watch.       http://www.youtube.com/user/justiciaporsage?feature=mhum

This ended with the police threatening to take her and her father into custody.  

Take a companion with a video.    If a picture is worth a thousand words,  a video is the equivalent of being there.

These Hague cases are NOT custody cases.    Allegations of abuse should be worked out in the country of origin where the accused might have a chance to a fair hearing.  

[kim in socal]

  There are four separate videos to watch.       http://www.youtube.com/user/justiciaporsage?feature=mhum  

Diane,
These videos are disgusting and I hope we hear some good new soon!!!!!
I had to watch them twice as I couldn't believe what I was seeing!!!!

[NoansDad]

This is the video that I took back in October last year when I went to see Noan. I took the camera just to catch the expression on Noan's face when he saw me. I was just about to turn it off when I realized that my wife's parents had entered the lobby of the apartment and it was 5 witnesses against one so I kept my camera going as my only eyewitness of what ended up happening. After this my wife went to the Police anyway and said I attacked her. I showed the Brazilian Police the video.... they would not drop the charges. I asked if I could file charges against my mother in law for assaulting me.... Oh course not. She is Brazilian I was a foreigner. I had no rights to claim that a Brazilian attacked me and the video proves nothing.

I will never be near my wife or any member of her family again without three lawyers and three cameras.

apartment vid

[Diane]

"I will never be near my wife or any member of her family again without three lawyers and three cameras."

Dear God,  I am so sorry for what you have been through.  Your beautiful little boy,  so happy to see you,  and these evil people exposing him to that kind of depravity, as it was obvious that he was running in joy to see you.   Little Sage also tried to tell his mother he didn't want to leave, and of course these children's voices are not heard by people so filled with hate, as they try to justify there heinous behavior.

I shudder to think what would have happened to Carlos, had his lawyer not been present.

Carlos's wife never made one accusation of abuse, before she left, and like David Goldman's wife she acted like everything was fine as she made her plans to steal his son.  All pictures taken up to the date of abduction, are proof of this.

The children in these situations can not help being emotionally damaged, by the horrible scenario's that their abductors and their families, so blithely put them through in their hateful campaigns to steal them.

The fact that you kept a camera running the whole time should have been proof positive that you would not be recording yourself being abusive.  Unbelievable and disgusting beyond words.

[rmakielski]

I know the the expressions on the abductors face and their mannerism very well. When will all the judges, psychologist, social workers, etc.. recognize this behavior.

This is a video of the last time had any contact with my children - http://www.flickr.com/x/t/0095009/photos/mariariveraestevez/5447757191/
Since she New I was recording this event, Maria was on her good behavior. I will NEVER resort to this conduct.

[Diane]

I know the the expressions on the abductors face and their mannerism very well. When will all the judges, psychologist, social workers, etc.. recognize this behavior.

This is a video of the last time had any contact with my children - http://www.flickr.com/x/t/0095009/photos/mariariveraestevez/5447757191/
Since she New I was recording this event, Maria was on her good behavior. I will NEVER resort to this conduct.

Your children are beautiful.   The joy on your son's face says it all.  Yes,  you are right,  The abductors all share the same expression. 

I think it is very hard to not retaliate with hate toward the people who are doing this but in the end it will be your love and ongoing efforts that will save these children.  David Goldman always resisted giving into baser emotions of revenge and hate and putting his son's best interest first.

Carlos's twin sister sat up a blog for just this reason.   No matter what happens, Sage will be able to see this someday and know that his dad and his whole extended family has always loved him and will never forget him.  This visual record will be kept active until he is old enough to see it.    The abductors will have so much to answer for.

[ProudDaddy]

First of all congratulations, your boy is wonderful! A typical "moleque", smart and bright. You need him and he needs you so keep fighting, no matter the kins.

As for the supposed charges, the police cannot dismiss (or keep) anything - it is up to her to sue you and prove to the judge that she was indeed attacked. At this moment the police officer only records her complaint, which becomes an official document and would be used in court. But you also can file charges against her in the very same way - the fact that you are a foreigner and she is a Brazilian national does not grant her any privilege. But I but the judge would dismiss both your and her claims of violence. Based on the video that was just an altercation, not even a disdemeanour.