Hire a Lawyer Who Knows the Difference Between Kidnapping and False Imprisonment in Baltimore, MD
Most people have a sense of what kidnapping is. Maryland law punishes the abducting or carrying away of another, by force or by fraud, harshly, with up to 30 years in prison. Some lawyers are aware of an important exception to the charge -it does not apply to the act of a parent taking his or her minor child outside the state. There are, however, other provisions of the criminal law and family law that apply to this situation. Asportation, or the unlawful carrying away of the victim, is an essential element of kidnapping crime. The seasoned lawyer knows that unlawfully confining a person, without more, is false imprisonment, not kidnapping. The distance carried away does not matter. Even a small distance will suffice.
False Imprisonment
False imprisonment is the unlawful detention of a person. Maryland case law distinguishes the common law crime of false imprisonment as a lesser-included offense of kidnapping. Case law suggests that false imprisonment may be a fineable offense, and attorneys have argued that where there is no carrying away or where there is no force, the appropriate charge is false imprisonment.
Kidnapping is a serious charge with a significant sanction. Kidnapping is often charged, where, even though a crime has been committed, the appropriate charge is a lesser or different offense. If you find yourself here, it is vital to secure the advice of a seasoned criminal defense attorney who knows that difference. Call me today to arrange for your complimentary legal analysis and opinion.
R.S. Baltimore, MD,
