Father Charged After Not Returning Baby To NJ As Agreed, Officials Say

PATERSON, NJ — A baby girl is back home with her mother, after officials say the child's father went to North Carolina and did not return her to New Jersey despite a court-ordered agreement.

Authorities said the mother, a Paterson resident, called police on Tuesday, May 28 and said that the father of her 10-month-old daughter had not returned the child, though the visitation agreement was to bring her back on the 26th.

Officials said that investigators with Paterson Police and the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office identified Anthony Smith of Cary, N.C. as the baby's father. Authorities issued a warrant for his arrest on Wednesday, June 5, and members of the U.S. Marshals Service arrested him on Friday.

"The child was found in good health and was reunited with her mother," said Paterson PD Officer-In-Charge Isa Abbassi and Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes in a joint statement with the U.S. Marshals.

Smith, 47, faces a second-degree charge of interference with custody, which could be punishable by up to 10 years in state prison. Officials said he has not yet been extradited to New Jersey.

The Prosecutor's Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact their tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO.