Woman fined $15K for snatching adopted twins
Last Updated: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 | 9:34 AM ET
The Associated Press
An American woman, who was arrested in Ottawa in December 2006, is facing five years of probation for kidnapping her biological twins from their adoptive parents in North Carolina and taking them to Canada.
Allison Quets pleaded guilty to two counts of international parental kidnapping. The charges carry a maximum penalty of three years in prison.
Allison Quets gave up her twins for adoption soon after giving birth to them.
(CBC)
But a federal court judge in Raleigh, N.C., opted Tuesday for a sentence of probation.
Quets must pay a fine of $15,000 US and must surrender her passport.
She is also not allowed to visit the children, pending the decision of an upcoming hearing.
Quets says she signed adoption papers under duress after suffering medical problems during her pregnancy.
She unsuccessfully challenged the legality of the adoption in Florida and was granted visitation on appeal.
In 2006, Quets had a court-sanctioned visit with the 17-month-old twins the weekend before Christmas, but she did not return the toddlers.
She fled north with the toddlers and spend several days in Kingston, Ont., before travelling on to Ottawa.
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