Minneapolis Kidnapping Attorney
Kidnapping is the act of one person physically and involuntarily removing another person from their place of work, their home, or any other location. Age is not a factor in kidnapping. Once the person is kidnapped, they are kept in another location against their will. This is the act of “false imprisonment” and it can result in a separate charge, although it is related to the act of kidnapping. This results in some rather severe penalties.
As for why someone kidnaps another person, the motives are many. For instance, the kidnapper may seek a reward in exchange for the return of the person they kidnapped. Another example is an issue involving child custody. The non-custodial parent may take the child across state lines if they wanted custody of the child and did not receive it. Kidnapping by a parent is common in a custody battle, but there are times when the act may be a misunderstanding rather than actual kidnapping.
If you have been accused of kidnapping, you need a comprehensive defense. You need one that can reveal the facts in your case, which is something that only an experienced Minneapolis criminal defense attorney can do.
Kidnapping Facts
There are some rather interesting facts about kidnapping. Here are some statistics:
- Each day, there are 2,185 children reported missing in the U.S., which means there are nearly 800,000 children that go missing every year around the country.
- Approximately 25 percent of those that are kidnapped are kidnapped by a family member. Only 58,200 kidnapped children are kidnapped by strangers.
The statistics are difficult to read, but this shows how prevalent kidnapping is. Nonetheless, many of these cases have to do with parents taking their children without getting the permission of the custodial parent, which can be a violation of the custody agreement.
One parent may also report the other if they find out that their child was taken across state lines. In this case, it is important to employ a defense attorney who is knowledgeable of this area of the law. Many parents that take their child across state lines as a part of a visitation day do not realize that they may be doing something wrong.
Kidnapping Penalties
The kidnapping penalties vary based on the crime that was committed at the time of the kidnapping. The act is a felony across the board, but any type of bodily injury during the kidnapping or death can result in more severe penalties. If death occurred, then the murder will be charged in the first degree and that will be included with the kidnapping charges.
As for the penalties, they include life in prison with or without parole, probation, registration as a sex offender, restitution, a ruined reputation with the inability to get a job or find a place to live. Fortunately, you have access to quality representation that can work to get you a much better result.
Contact A Minnesota Criminal Defense Lawyer
Kidnapping is a very serious offense and is usually associated with the commission of other crimes. This means that there are additional charges that can result. Due to the additional charges, the penalties can be even harsher. This is why you need to defend yourself against those charges. By defending yourself, you can receive a much better outcome than the maximum sentence if convicted. To learn more about how the Anderson Law Firm, PLLC can help you, call 952-582-2904 for a free consultation.
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Please contact attorney Kirk Anderson for an initial consultation.