Kidnapping Charges Require a Strong Defense

Under Illinois state law, kidnapping occurs when a person knowingly and secretly takes and confines another human being against his or her will by use of force, the threat of force, deceit or enticement. Kidnapping also involves confining a mentally retarded person and confining a child less than 13 years of age without their parent’s consent. If you have been charged with kidnapping in any form, it is vital that you contact a Chicago criminal defense attorney immediately upon arrest.

A person is guilty of aggravated kidnapping if he or she kidnaps another person for ransom, if they inflict bodily harm with a dangerous weapon, if they kidnap a child under 13 years, or if they kidnap a mentally retarded person. In Illinois, kidnapping is a Class 2 felony and aggravated kidnapping is a Class X felony. For a Class 2 felony, a person can spend from 3 to 7 years in prison, for a Class X felony; a conviction will land you in prison from 6 to 30 years. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the case, a person can receive an additional 15 to 25 year sentence for aggravated kidnapping charges.

Kidnapping can be either a state or federal offense. If a person takes somebody across state lines against their will, they will most likely be charged under the federal kidnapping statute.

Kidnapping and Parent Abduction Cases

When it comes to kidnapping and parental abduction, there are shades of grey and lines to be drawn. Often times, victims of domestic violence flee to another town, city or state in order to protect themselves and their children from domestic violence and as a result, the fleeing parent may be charged with violating parental kidnapping laws. If this describes your situation, it is essential that you seek legal representation from a skilled and knowledgeable Chicago kidnapping defense attorney from the Law Offices of Mitch Furman & Associates. We have extensive experience in defending clients who have been charged with abducting their own children, we are sympathetic and understand the gravity of the situation and we intend to help protect our clients from abusers in every way possible.

Contact a Chicago kidnapping defense attorney from our firm today for an initial case evaluation.