Knoxville, Tennessee Kidnapping Defense Lawyer

Skilled Defense Attorney for Felony Kidnapping Charges in Knoxville, TN

Most people hear the term "kidnapping" and think of someone snatching a child off the street, stuffing them in the trunk of a car, and driving away. However, the legal definition of kidnapping in Tennessee is much more broad. You can kidnap a person without removing them from the location where you found them. Kidnapping simply means falsely imprisoning a person in a way that exposes them to the risk of bodily harm. While forcing someone into the trunk of your car and driving away would certainly meet the definition of kidnapping, most real-life kidnapping cases are far less dramatic.

The team at The Baker Law Firm is skilled in fighting for people who have been accused of serious felonies like kidnapping, aggravated kidnapping, and especially aggravated kidnapping. Attorney Lance K. Baker will work to achieve the best possible outcome in your case, whether that means having your charges reduced through plea bargaining or fighting for a not-guilty verdict at trial.

Understanding Kidnapping Charges in Tennessee

To prove that you are guilty of kidnapping, the state would first need to show that you committed the underlying offense of false imprisonment. False imprisonment means knowingly confining the victim or moving them to another location in a way that substantially interferes with their liberty. Locking someone in a closet or dragging them into another room would both be considered false imprisonment.

The state would then need to prove that the way you carried out the false imprisonment exposed the alleged victim to a substantial risk of bodily injury. If the alleged victim was very unlikely to suffer injury as a result of the kidnapping, you should instead be charged with the lesser crime of false imprisonment.

Aggravated Kidnapping Explained

You can be charged with the more serious crime of aggravated kidnapping if:

• It was committed to help you commit another felony or to flee after committing a felony - For example, forcing a cashier into a back room to retrieve the keys to a cash register.
• You intended to seriously injure or terrorize the alleged victim or someone else - Falsely imprisoning someone so that you can assault them or terrorize their family members falls into this category.
• The alleged victim actually suffered bodily harm - If you allegedly injured the victim by intentionally battering them or otherwise it is considered aggravated kidnapping.
• You possessed or threatened to use a deadly weapon - Even if you did not use a weapon - or did not have a weapon but said you did - you can be charged with aggravated kidnapping.
• You intended to disrupt a governmental or political function - For example, preventing an activist leader from leaving their home so that they could not speak at a political function would count.

Especially Aggravated Kidnapping

You may be charged with especially aggravated kidnapping if:

• You allegedly used a deadly weapon or an item you intended the alleged victim to believe was a deadly weapon to facilitate the crime - Kidnapping someone at gunpoint or brandishing a fake gun would both count.
• The alleged victim was a child less than 13 years old - Crimes against child victims are taken extremely seriously.
• You allegedly held the victim for ransom or used them as a hostage or shield - Holding a bank employee against you as a human shield to help you escape after a robbery would be considered especially aggravated kidnapping.
• The alleged victim suffered serious bodily harm - If the alleged victim was seriously injured, you may be charged with this high-level felony offense.

Contact a Knoxville, Tennessee Kidnapping Lawyer

The Baker Law Firm can help if you have been charged with any form of kidnapping. To get legal help with kidnapping charges, contact us at 865-200-4117 for a complimentary consultation.