No. 23-3575 ___________________________

United States of America

Plaintiff - Appellee

v.

Kira Kristina Zielinski

Defendant - Appellant ____________

Appeal from United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa - Eastern ____________

Submitted: September 26, 2024 Filed: February 13, 2025 ____________ Before GRUENDER, KELLY, and GRASZ, Circuit Judges. ____________ GRUENDER, Circuit Judge.

Kira Zielinski absconded with her minor child to Mexico with the intent of depriving her ex-husband of his parental rights. When Zielinski returned to the United States, she was indicted for international parental kidnapping. See 18 U.S.C. § 1204(a). Following a bench trial, the district court1 found Zielinski guilty and sentenced her