Kidnapping Charges Defense Lawyer in Orange County
According to the state of California, anyone who unlawfully takes a person from one place to another against their will and by using force or other fear-instilling means is guilty of kidnapping. Kidnapping is a very serious charge and it is a strike crime under California’s “three strikes” law. That means that if you have a prior criminal record, you could be facing an enhanced prison sentence if you are convicted – even up to 25 years to life. Even if you are facing kidnapping charges and you have no prior record, you have to be aware that the state considers kidnapping a serious felony and you cannot expect leniency.
Many people might not be aware of the fact that you can be charged with kidnapping if the person you allegedly forcibly took or stole away was your own child or family member. You can absolutely be charged and convicted with kidnapping even if you did not consider the incident to be an act of illegal kidnapping. In fact, most kidnapping charges in the United States involve domestic/familial relationships.
Orange County Kidnapping Lawyer
If you are facing any type of kidnapping charges in California, you need to be aware of the strict punishments that you are facing. Without the help of a competent and experienced kidnapping attorney, your chances of a positive outcome in your case can be exponentially decreased. Because the Orange County kidnapping lawyers at the Law Office of Bruce C. Bridgman have defended so many individuals charged with all types of crimes, they can defend you even if your criminal case involves other charges in conjunction with the original kidnapping accusation.
If you are convicted of kidnapping another person, you could face the following punishments by the state of California:
- Simple kidnapping: up to 8 years in a state prison
- Kidnapping of a minor under the age of 14: up to 11 years in a state prison
Additionally, if you are charged with kidnapping an individual with the purpose of physically harming the person (rape, robbery) or if you plan to hold them for ransom, you could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Contact an Orange County Kidnapping Attorney at the Law Office of Bruce C. Bridgman if you have been charged with any type of kidnapping offense in California.