Detroit Kidnapping Lawyer
If you get charged with kidnapping, you could face a long jail sentence, fines, and a ruined reputation. Since kidnapping is a felony, a conviction on your criminal record could keep you from getting a job, owning a firearm, or taking out loans for college. In other words, a conviction for kidnapping could turn your life upside down. For this reason, you should retain the services of a reputable Michigan criminal defense attorney as soon as you are charged.
At Drias Law Group, we are dedicated to ensuring that each and every one of our clients enjoys the full protection of the law while facing the criminal justice system. Unlike the public defender’s office, we are a small firm that can give individual attention to each of our clients. We have a track record of obtaining positive case results for our clients facing kidnapping and other criminal charges in Michigan.
A Kidnapping Conviction Could Mean Life in Prison
Section 750.349 of the Michigan Penal Code defines kidnapping as knowingly restraining another person with the intent of doing any of the following:
- Holding that person for a ransom or a reward
- Using that person as a shield or a hostage
- Forcing that person into non-consensual or criminal sex
- Taking that person outside of the state
- Keeping that person for involuntary servitude
- Engaging in child abuse or sex with a child
Most people imagine a kidnapping as a lengthy, well-planned event. But you could be convicted of kidnapping even if your restraining of the other person was momentary, as long as you acted without that person’s consent or legal authority. If convicted of kidnapping, a court may sentence you to a prison term of any length up to life, and a possible fine of up to $50,000.
Making Sure You Get a Fair Trial
Kidnapping cases require special attention because of the significant penalties that stem from a conviction. Another issue is that few crimes stir the public’s emotions as much as kidnapping. It can be difficult for the defendant of a kidnapping case to get a fair trial when the prosecutors and the judge are under pressure from the public and the media to punish the suspect.
The first priority in defending your kidnapping case is ensuring that your rights are fully respected. No matter how serious the allegations may be, every criminal suspect must be considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. We will carefully examine the evidence against you and make sure that only the admissible evidence gets used at trial. If the prosecution doesn’t have enough admissible evidence in its case at the trial’s onset, it may be possible to have the charges against you dismissed.
A Detroit Kidnapping Lawyer at Drias Law Group Can Help
During your trial, your attorney will show the gaps and inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case, while offering an alternate version of events to the jury. If your side of the story raises a reasonable doubt about the prosecution’s case, the jury may be instructed to enter a verdict of not guilty.
If the jury finds you guilty, a judge will determine your sentence at a later sentencing hearing. Your attorney will represent you at this hearing and make sure the judge hears all the mitigating factors that apply to your case. With skillful advocacy, it’s possible to obtain a significantly reduced sentence for your kidnapping conviction. According to the Michigan Supreme Court, judges are no longer required to give convicts the sentences recommended in the penal code.
The sooner you hire a Detroit violent crime lawyer to work on your case, the better your chances of avoiding a conviction. If you’re facing kidnapping charges, you can call us today and we’ll give you a free and confidential consultation.
If you’re facing kidnapping charges, the sooner you retain the services of a Michigan criminal defense attorney, the better your chances of avoiding a conviction. At Drias Law Group, our goal is to give our clients the best chances possible as they face the criminal justice system, and to ensure that their rights are respected along the way. Call us today at (313) 944-0236 and we’ll give you a free and confidential consultation of your case.
Need Defense Against Your Charge? Contact us today.
Your initial consultation will always be free and confidential. Call (313) 944-0236 today or fill out the form below and we will help you.
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