ALISO VIEJO – Sheriff’s deputies are searching for a 15-month-old girl who they believe was taken in the night by her biological father.

The girl was staying with her grandparents in Aliso Viejo, said Lt. Steve Doan of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. They put her to bed around 8:30 p.m. Thursday and found her missing at 7 a.m. Friday, he said.

“We believe the child is in the possession of the biological father, their son,” Doan said. “This is not a situation where a stranger entered a house and abducted a child.”

The father is in violation of a court order issued Sept. 8 that granted temporary custody to the grandparents, Doan said.

Deputies are searching for the father, Brendan MacCleverty, 23, as well as a black 1996 Toyota 4Runner with Colorado license plates, 485VFD. They identified the girl as Skye MacCleverty. Doan said that the girl’s mother, Shawn Brady, 24, may be with them.

Doan said MacCleverty and Brady had lived in Colorado at one time, but he did not know where they live now. MacCleverty had also lived with his parents at one time; there were no signs of forced entry at their house on Sherrelwood Court in Aliso Viejo.

Deputies spoke with state officials about issuing an Amber Alert for the missing girl. But the state only issues the alerts when abducted children are considered at risk, and Doan said they do not believe she is in danger. The girl is considered missing.

Brendan MacCleverty does not appear to have a criminal record in Orange County beyond a handful of traffic citations, court records show.

Contact the writer: 714-704-3777 or dirving@ocregister.com