Prosecutors in Vermont say a Mennonite pastor worked with others to help a woman flee the United States with her child rather than share custody of her child with her former lesbian partner.

Opening statements in the trial of Pastor Kenneth Miller of Stuarts Draft, Va., began Wednesday.

Miller is accused of helping Lisa Miller and her daughter flee the United States and live with Mennonites in Nicaragua to avoid a court order sharing custody of the child with her former partner Janet Jenkins of Fair Haven, Vt.

The two women entered a civil union in Vermont then broke up and got into a long custody battle for the girl.

Kenneth Miller, who is no relation to Lisa Miller, is charged with aiding and abetting in international kidnapping.