537.16 CHILD STEALING.

   (a)   No person, by any means, and with purpose to withhold a child under the age of fourteen or mentally incompetent from the legal custody of his parent, guardian or custodian, shall remove such child from the place where he is found.

   (b)   It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section that the actor reasonably believed that his conduct was necessary to preserve the child’s health or welfare.

   (c)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of child stealing, a misdemeanor of the first degree, provided the offender is a natural or adoptive parent or stepparent of the child, but not entitled to legal custody of the child when the offense is committed, and provided the violator has not removed the child from the State.

(ORC 2905.04)