Wife Says Baby Veronica's Dad Has Not Agreed To Turn Himself In

Deputies in South Carolina have an arrest warrant for the biological father of Baby Veronica behind bars, but Dusten Brown is in Iowa for mandatory National Guard training.

The arrest warrant was issued Friday night, August 9, 2013. Deputies say Brown has failed to transfer custody of the 4 year old to her adoptive parents.

Dusten Brown's wife, Robin, spoke to News On 6 over the phone Saturday about the latest development in the ongoing case.

"We still have legal options in Oklahoma which they're trying to completely bypass," Robin Brown said.

Deputies say it's "custodial interference" and is a result of Dusten's failure to transfer Baby Veronica by a South Carolina Court. The sheriff's office says Brown is expected to turn himself into military authorities in Iowa.

8/10/2013 Related Story: Arrest Warrant Issued For Biological Father of 'Baby Veronica'

His wife says they are exploring more legal options.

"We have never physically stated that Dusten will turn himself in on Sunday," she said.

On Tuesday, a South Carolina Judge threw out a seven-day transition plan for Baby Veronica. The court ordered Brown to immediately hand Baby Veronica over to her adoptive parents Matt and Melanie Capobianco.

This happened after the court said Brown was a no-show during a scheduled meeting between Veronica and the two parents.

But Dusten Brown is a member of the Oklahoma National Guard at required military training in Iowa.

The Cherokee Nation responded to the warrant saying, "Not only is the adoptive couple asking this child be ripped from her father while he is serving our country, they are also endangering his military career in the process. This is outrageous conduct."

The Capobiancos raised Baby Veronica, age 3, for two years before her biological father, Dusten Brown, gained custody.

The attorney for Veronica's birth mother says the Browns have held Veronica unlawfully for a week.

Dusten Brown's wife says she's been aware that he could be arrested by South Carolina authorities over this case.

Reporter Tony Russell: "Did you ever think that an arrest warrant would be pursued on your husband like this?"
Robin Brown, wife of Dusten Brown: "I knew it was a possibility, yes we all did. We know they would rather see Dusten behind bars than have Veronica, and that's what they're pushing for."

In a 5-4 opinion in June, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned that decision and said Dusten Brown was not entitled to custody of the child based on the Indian Child Welfare Act.

The Browns and the Cherokee Nation say they are still exploring all legal options on the table.