# Cal. PEN § 278.5: Section 278.5

> California · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CA_Cpen_P1_T9_C4_S278.5

## Section

- **Citation:** Cal. PEN § 278.5
- **Heading:** Section 278.5
- **Jurisdiction:** California
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** California Code / Code pen / Part 1 / Title 9 / Chapter 4 / Section 278.5

## Text

(a) Every person who takes, entices away, keeps, withholds, or conceals a child and maliciously deprives a lawful custodian of a right to custody, or a person of a right to visitation, shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both that fine and imprisonment, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 for 16 months, or two or three years, a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both that fine and imprisonment.

(b) Nothing contained in this section limits the court’s contempt power.

(c) A custody order obtained after the taking, enticing away, keeping, withholding, or concealing of a child does not constitute a defense to a crime charged under this section.

## Nearby sections

- [Cal. PEN § 277 Section 277](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CA_Cpen_P1_T9_C4_S277.md)
- [Cal. PEN § 278 Section 278](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CA_Cpen_P1_T9_C4_S278.md)
- [Cal. PEN § 278.5 Section 278.5](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CA_Cpen_P1_T9_C4_S278.5.md)
- [Cal. PEN § 278.6 Section 278.6](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CA_Cpen_P1_T9_C4_S278.6.md)
- [Cal. PEN § 278.7 Section 278.7](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CA_Cpen_P1_T9_C4_S278.7.md)
- [Cal. PEN § 279 Section 279](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CA_Cpen_P1_T9_C4_S279.md)
- [Cal. PEN § 279.1 Section 279.1](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CA_Cpen_P1_T9_C4_S279.1.md)
- [Cal. PEN § 279.5 Section 279.5](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CA_Cpen_P1_T9_C4_S279.5.md)
- [Cal. PEN § 279.6 Section 279.6](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CA_Cpen_P1_T9_C4_S279.6.md)
- [Cal. PEN § 280 Section 280](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CA_Cpen_P1_T9_C4_S280.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CA_Cpen_P1_T9_C4_S278.5. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.