Following a five-day jury trial, Shana Gaviola, 38, formerly of Clovis, was convicted of violating an interstate protection order after arranging for her estranged teenage son to be taken from California to Missouri against his will. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Eric Grant.
“Shana Gaviola paid individuals to kidnap her then-16-year-old son from an ice-skating rink in Fresno, California, drive him in handcuffs to Missouri, and forcibly restrain him there for a week—all in express violation of a state-court domestic violence restraining order and ostensibly in the exercise of Gaviola’s religious beliefs,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “No parent—indeed, no person whatsoever—has the right to subject a child to kidnapping and terror for that reason or any other reason. This office will continue to vigorously prosecute anyone who violates the basic rights and safety of minors in our district, especially in violation of lawful court orders.”
“We are grateful for our strong partnership with the Fresno Police Department. Together, we uncovered the facts that ultimately led to today’s verdict. Shana Gaviola manipulated others to help force her will upon her son. We are very proud of his resolve throughout this investigation and trial. He will rest easier knowing that justice has been served,” said FBI Sacramento Acting Special Agent in Charge Duel Valentine.
Court documents and testimony revealed that in 2020, Gaviola’s then-16-year-old son began living with another family after seeking emancipation from his mother and obtaining a domestic violence protection order from Fresno County Superior Court. The order barred Gaviola from contacting or harassing her son directly or indirectly.
Despite this order, Gaviola arranged for her son to be forcibly taken on August 21, 2021. Individuals acting on her behalf abducted him from an ice-skating rink in Fresno, handcuffed him, and transported him by car to Stockton, Missouri—a journey during which he remained restrained for more than 24 hours. He was held at a youth facility until his father secured his release.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation with support from the Fresno Police Department and Clovis Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Veronica M.A. Alegría and Heiko P. Coppola prosecuted the case, with additional assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Western District of Missouri and Eastern District of Missouri.
Gaviola is scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour on April 27, 2026. She faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; however, the actual sentence will be determined by the court based on statutory factors and federal Sentencing Guidelines.
