Pittsburgh Kidnapping Defense Attorney

Types of kidnapping charges in Pennsylvania

There are several types of kidnapping charges, all of which carry their own penalties and punishment.

1. Simple kidnapping: If the defendant used force or fear to move the victim from one place to another without their consent, the defendant will most likely be charged with a felony, punishable by a sentence of imprisonment of up to 20 years.
2. Aggravated kidnapping: If the defendant kidnapped the victim and made a ransom demand or inflicted serious bodily injury or death, he or she will most likely be charged with a felony offense of aggravated kidnapping. You may also be charged with aggravated kidnapping if your case involved extortion, robbery, carjacking, and certain sex crimes. In many cases, defendants charged with aggravated kidnapping are facing a life sentence.
3. False imprisonment: If you restrained, detained, or confined another person against their will, you may be charged with false imprisonment, which carries less severe penalties. Those who are being accused of simple or aggravated kidnapping are often able to plead down to false imprisonment to avoid facing serious penalties.
4. Child abduction: You do not necessarily have to move the victim a substantial distance to be charged with this type of kidnapping. In fact, you can be charged with child abduction for deliberately keeping the child from someone who has custody rights.