SC orders Cherokee girl transferred from Okla.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina judge says a Cherokee girl in Oklahoma should be immediately turned over to her adoptive parents.

Family Court Judge Daniel Martin said in an order this week that 3-year-old Veronica should be transferred to Matt and Melanie Capobianco of James Island.

The girl has been with her biological father, Dusten Brown, in Oklahoma since 2011. Empowered by the U.S. Supreme Court, Martin previously finalized Veronica’s adoption and approved a transition plan.

Martin says Brown missed a scheduled meeting to bring the girl to meet with the Capobiancos. Veronica has been with his wife and parents while Brown serves an Oklahoma National Guard stint, which ends August 21.

The case file is sealed, but the order was obtained by WCBD-TV of Charleston and posted on its website.

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Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP