Cleveland Kidnapping Lawyer

Cleveland Kidnapping Attorney

Kidnapping is a felony charge and an offense for which Ohio law carries extreme penalties for those convicted. Kidnapping is defined as someone using force, threats, or deceit to remove an individual from their original location, transporting the victim to another location, and then restraining them to prevent them from leaving. If you have been accused of kidnapping, do not discuss your innocence with anyone. Call a Cleveland kidnapping lawyer as soon as possible.

Fortress Law Group, LLC consists of experienced and well-versed criminal defense attorneys, including a former assistant prosecutor who knows both sides of the courtroom. We can use our understanding of prosecutor strategies to support your case and determine a legal defense strategy that is ideal for your circumstances and situation. With charges like these, every second counts. The sooner you contact us, the better.

We can apply our professional resources and in-depth knowledge of Ohio criminal law to every case we take and do everything we can to diligently represent and protect the rights of our clients. Our job requires us to stay current with case law and the court’s procedural rules, ensuring we leave no turn uncovered. We vow to take our job seriously and maintain an open line of communication with all our clients.

Penalties for Kidnapping Charges in Cleveland

The consequences of a kidnapping conviction are severe. The ideal situation is when the victim is ultimately released in a safe place and left unharmed, but even this is a second-degree felony charge and carries a minimum 10-year prison sentence.

Worst-case scenarios can result in elevated charges, including a first-degree felony that can result in life imprisonment for the defendant if convicted. A skilled Cleveland kidnapping lawyer at Fortress Law Group, LLC can help defendants pursue a lesser sentence.

Examples of Kidnapping

Kidnapping is essentially taking someone from one location to another location and detaining them there against their will. Some reasons kidnappers do this include holding a victim hostage for ransom, using a victim as a shield, committing human trafficking, or because they have committed a felony and do not want to leave the individual behind as a witness. Whatever the reason, there are serious consequences for a kidnapping conviction.

Kidnapping Defense

In many cases, defendants are charged with kidnapping, but it turns out they are not guilty of actual kidnapping. If there is a valid defense, an experienced Cleveland kidnapping lawyer may use a legal defense strategy in a kidnapping case that proves false allegations, lack of intent, consent of the victim, lack of evidence, existing alibi, mistaken identity, lack of transport, and/or lack of restraint.

If you are facing kidnapping charges, your life is undoubtedly changed forever. You need an attorney who can advocate for your rights and convince the prosecutor of the facts using any and all resources available. Missing one detail or leaving one piece unturned can make a big difference and every second counts.

Proving Guilt Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

A defendant must be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to be convicted. Cleveland has had an alarming number of missing children in recent years. Emotions run high in these cases. There was a recent Cleveland kidnapping case that made national news. There still must be sufficient evidence for a conviction. In many cases, there is not sufficient evidence, but without an experienced lawyer, the truth often remains unknown.

Many defendants accept plea deals that are based on a lack of evidence, oftentimes pushed by prosecutors for that very reason. It is in the interest of the defendant to have someone the courts will listen to who can advocate for them and tell their story on their behalf.

FAQs

Q: What Is the Charge for Kidnapping in Ohio?

A: Penalties for a kidnapping charge in Ohio vary depending on factors such as prior offenses, whether the victim was harmed, and whether the kidnapping charge was aggravated kidnapping. Most first-time kidnapping convictions carry a first- or second-degree felony charge in Ohio. A kidnapping conviction can incur a life sentence in some cases.

Q: What Is the Difference Between Kidnapping and Abduction in Ohio?

A: Kidnapping charges in Cleveland, Ohio are much more serious than abduction charges. Kidnapping implies that the victim was removed from their original location, while a less severe abduction charge is more generally used to describe crimes in which someone’s liberty is restrained, but they are not necessarily removed from one place and taken to another. In an abduction, the victim needs only to be held against their will.

Q: What Are the Three Stages of Kidnapping?

A: The three stages of kidnapping are acquisition, transportation, and control. Acquisition is when the kidnapper makes initial contact with a victim and plans to kidnap them. Transportation refers to the movement of the victim to another location, and the control stage refers to the time following the kidnapping, during which the kidnapper typically uses the victim as bait to get something in return, like a ransom or another demand.

Q: What Is the Minimum Sentence for Kidnapping?

A: The minimum sentence for kidnapping depends on the degree of the charge and whether the charge is made at the federal or state level. Also, aggravating factors and multiple previous convictions can increase the penalties for kidnapping. The minimum sentence for a federal kidnapping conviction is any number of years in prison, up to life in prison, and up to 20 years in prison for attempted kidnapping.

Consult With a Cleveland Kidnapping Lawyer

If you are facing kidnapping charges in Ohio of any kind, call a Cleveland kidnapping lawyer who has significant experience in criminal law and criminal defense. Fortress Law Group, LLC is well-versed in Ohio laws and familiar with Ohio trial courts. Contact our criminal defense legal team and learn how we can assist you in forming an ideal and high-quality defense strategy for your case.

Once you engage our legal team, you can rest assured that you are getting the quality legal representation you deserve. We can help you explore the full extent of your legal options.

See Related Posts:

• Federal Crimes vs Ohio State Crimes
• Understanding Felony Defense in Ohio
• An Experienced Ohio Criminal Defense Attorney Explains Federal Crimes