The Anaheim Police Department is searching for a missing teenager named Alyson.
Alyson is a Female Hispanic, brown hair, brown eyes, light skin complexion, approximately 5’05 and 130 lbs. She was wearing a black sweater, pink hello kitty pajama pants, and gray crocs.
She was last seen this morning walking in the area of Beach Blvd. and Lincoln Ave.
If you have seen Alyson, or know where she might be, please contact your local police agency or the Anaheim Police, at 714-765-1900.
In California, taking a juvenile without parental permission—especially when it interferes with custody or visitation rights—is a serious offense governed by Penal Code § 278.5 PC, which addresses deprivation of custody.
Key Points of the Law:
What constitutes a violation:
- Taking, enticing away, keeping, withholding, or concealing a child under 18.
- Maliciously depriving a lawful custodian (parent, guardian, or agency) of custody or visitation rights.
- Even if the child goes willingly, it can still be a crime.
- Penalties:
- Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both.
- Felony: 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in state prison, a fine up to $10,000, or both.
- “Maliciously” means acting with intent to disturb, defraud, annoy, or injure another person.
- No defense: A custody order obtained after the act does not excuse the offense.
- Jurisdiction: Charges can be brought in California even if the offender or the act occurred out of state, as long as the child or custodial party has ties to California.
In the United States, the vast majority of missing teenagers and children are eventually found. Here’s a breakdown of the key statistics:
- 99.8% of missing children are eventually found alive, according to data from the Polly Klaas Foundation 1. This includes children who were lost, ran away, or were abducted.
- 94% of recovered children are found within 72 hours.
- Runaways, who make up the largest category of missing children, have a 99% return rate.
- The recovery rate for all missing children rose significantly over the years—from 62% in 1990 to 97% in 2011.
These high recovery rates are largely due to improved law enforcement coordination, public awareness campaigns, and tools like the AMBER Alert system, which has helped recover hundreds of children since its inception.
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions.
When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.
Contact Art at editor@newsantaana.com.