( CNN ) -- The biological father of a Native American child was arrested Monday after defying a court order to return the girl to her adoptive parents , the latest development in a four-year case that has spanned state lines and tested an unusual federal law . Matt and Melanie Capobianco , a white couple from South Carolina , legally adopted Veronica at birth in September 2009 . When Veronica 's father , Cherokee Nation member Dusten Brown , learned of her adoption a few months later , he asserted his custody rights under the Indian Child Welfare Act , setting off a lengthy legal fight . A family court judge ruled in Brown 's favor in late 2011 , and he took his daughter back . The Capobiancos have fought ever since to have Veronica returned . Timeline of 'Baby Veronica ' adoption case . The case has bounced from family court to the U.S. Supreme Court and back again . After South Carolina 's Supreme Court ruled last month to allow the Capobiancos ' adoption to be finalized , the U.S. Supreme Court refused to intervene , thus giving the ultimate go-ahead for the Charleston couple to regain custody of Veronica . The girl 's transition back to the Capobiancos was supposed to begin last week . Brown , however , never showed up with his daughter . A family court judge in South Carolina ordered the girl to be handed over immediately , saying she was being `` unlawfully withheld from her lawful parents . '' The Charleston County Sheriff 's Office issued a warrant for Brown on Friday for interfering with custody . Brown was arrested Monday in his home state of Oklahoma after turning himself in . He posted a $ 10,000 bond , according to the Charleston County Sheriff 's Office and Amanda Clinton , spokeswoman for the Cherokee Nation District Court . Justices refuse again to intervene in adoption dispute . It was n't clear Monday evening , however , where Brown or his daughter were . Melanie Capobianco told reporters that Veronica is being `` illegally held against the wishes of her parents and the courts , '' and she pleaded for her daughter 's return . `` With every passing hour , we fear more and more for her safety and well-being , '' she said . `` If anything should happen to our daughter while she 's being left in the hands of those who hold her captive from us , the responsibility will be shared by many . '' She added , `` We pray that those who are holding Veronica will do the right thing and send Veronica home to us , please . '' Charleston County authorities said they are in touch with Oklahoma officials about extraditing Brown `` as well as pursuing all available options in locating Baby Veronica . '' Brown told CNN 's Randi Kaye over the weekend that he is willing to go to jail for his daughter . `` I 'm going to fight till I have no fight left in me and till they say you ca n't fight no more , '' Brown said . `` This is my daughter . It 's not a yo-yo that I can just say , hey , I borrowed it for two years and here 's it back . '' Brown claims the Indian Child Welfare Act allows him to have parental custody of Veronica over the Capobiancos . The Supreme Court , however , ruled that Brown could not rely on the act for relief because he did not have legal or physical custody of Veronica at the time of the adoption proceedings , which the birth mother initiated without his knowledge . Brown , who was not married to Veronica 's non-Indian mother when she was conceived , signed a legal document agreeing to put the girl up for adoption and relinquishing his parental rights in exchange for not paying child support . His attorneys say Brown did not understand the extent of the waiver and that the mother never indicated she intended unilaterally to give Veronica up for adoption . CNN 's Marlena Baldacci , Christine Theodoru , Mayra Cuevas , Joe Sutton , Randi Kaye and Bill Mears contributed to this report .
Dusten Brown says the adoption of his daughter should not have been allowed . The adoptive parents say they were told by a social worker that their child would be placed in foster care if she was adopted out before her 18th birthday. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court , which OK 'd the adoption . Brown never showed up to return his daughter to the couple .