Opinion
34451.
SUBMITTED JANUARY 12, 1979.
DECIDED APRIL 5, 1979.
Contempt, etc. Franklin Superior Court. Before Judge Burruss.
Hulon Murray, Fay R. Loggins, for appellant.
The appellant was held in contempt of court for failing to return the minor child of the parties to the appellee following her visitation with the child. She contends that there is no precedent for holding one in criminal contempt of court for retaining a child beyond the visitation period. We disagree. Fields v. Fields, 240 Ga. 173 ( 240 S.E.2d 58) (1977).
The trial court was also authorized to modify the visitation rights of appellant on its own motion in the contempt proceeding. Sampson v. Sampson, 240 Ga. 118 ( 239 S.E.2d 519) (1977); Kent v. Tankersley, 243 Ga. 471 (1979).
We find no abuse of discretion by the trial court in entering the contempt order.
Judgment affirmed. All the Justices concur.