PARIS – An Indiana woman was extradited to Oxford County last week after failing to return two children to the custody of their father in West Paris.

Tracy Ann Francis, 32, of 5437 Wakefield Drive in Greenwood, Ind., was arrested on a charge of criminal restraint by a parent Aug. 29 by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office south of Indianapolis.

“It was basically a parental abduction,” said Lt. Christopher Wainwright of the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office. “The important thing is that the children are safe and back at home.”

Wainwright said the children’s father, who lives in West Paris, has primary custody of the children. According to an affidavit filed with the Oxford County Superior Court, he approached the Sheriff’s Office in mid-July after Francis failed to send the children back from a visit.

The father said he and Francis had arranged for her to take the children to her home in Tennessee for two weeks and return them at the end of June. According to the affidavit, Francis called the father to say she had moved to Gary, Ind., and made her last contact with him on July 1 to say she had purchased plane tickets for the children to return.

According to a motion to amend bail by attorney Thomas Cary, the time period of the visit was unspecified and Francis had agreed to return the children at Syracuse, N.Y., on Sept. 1.

Wainwright said he made contact with Francis in mid-July via e-mail and cell phone and gave her until the beginning of the school year to return the children. At the end of August, the children’s father reported they had still not returned. On the same day, the Gary Police Department reported to Wainwright that the address given in the city by Francis did not exist.

With the cooperation of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Wainwright tracked Francis down through information on her boyfriend. Wainwright said police used “advanced investigative techniques” to find her, but declined to explain because he said it might jeopardize another case he is working on.

Wainwright and Oxford County sheriff’s Lt. Hart Daley flew to Indiana to interview the officers involved in Francis’ arrest and return her to Maine. Wainwright estimated they spent about 36 hours out of state.

“It was kind of a marathon trip out and back,” he said.

The father of the 8-year-old girl and 3-year-old boy made the trip out to Indiana to pick them up. Neither child had been harmed.

Wainwright said travel expenses were covered by the District Attorney’s Office, and Francis may be required to pay the costs if she is convicted.

Francis posted $1,500 bail to be released from the Oxford County Jail.

Her initial bail conditions allowed her to visit the children if a third party adult is present, and require her to remain in Maine.

Cary’s motion to amend the conditions was approved Friday to allow Francis to leave the state to care for a 12-year-old daughter whom she has full custody over.

The felony charge is punishable by up to five years in prison. The case will go to the grand jury next month.