Colorado Springs Kidnapping Attorney

Colorado Springs Kidnapping Attorney

Are you facing kidnapping charges?

The penalties associated with felony kidnapping charges are severe and could occur at the state or federal level, depending on the case.

If you have been charged with kidnapping, your need for legal representation is critical. Contact a Colorado Springs Kidnapping Attorney as soon as possible to ensure you’re treated fairly, and your rights are observed.

What Constitutes Kidnapping in Colorado?

A kidnapping charge in Colorado occurs when an individual is accused of intentionally imprisoning and transporting an alleged victim against their will when there was no lawful reason to do so.

The act of kidnapping could have been accomplished in a variety of ways, including:

• Enticement
• Persuasion
• Force

Most kidnapping charges are felonies in Colorado, and the severity of the charge depends on a few factors, including the alleged victim’s age and whether harm to the victim occurred during the ordeal.

Scenarios That Have Led to Kidnapping in Colorado

Domestic disputes and arguments

Drug debts

Child custody disagreements

Ransom seeking 

Degrees of Kidnapping Charges in Colorado

There are two degrees of Colorado kidnapping charges, and which charge is filed depends on one crucial factor—whether the perpetrator made demands associated with the release of the kidnapped victim.

Second-Degree Kidnapping

The lesser of the two degrees of kidnapping charges, second-degree kidnapping, alleges that the perpetrator seized and moved the victim from one place to another against their will.

This charge also includes luring or enticing a child away from a legal guardian with the intent to conceal or keep the child. Additionally, individuals can be charged with parental kidnapping or violation of a custody order in some cases.

First-Degree Kidnapping

The most severe kidnapping charge in Colorado is first-degree kidnapping. This charge alleges that the defendant committed the same crime as second-degree kidnapping.

However, kidnapping in the first degree comes with the added intent to secure valuable assets—like a ransom—from either the victim or some other person to release the kidnapped person.

Kidnapping Charges Carry Heavy Consequences

Colorado penalties for felony charges of kidnapping depend on the individual case and the severity of the defendant’s actions. It is, however, considered a crime of “extraordinary risk” under Colorado law and carries harsher consequences than other types of felonies.

Second-Degree Kidnapping Penalties

As a Class 4 felony in Colorado, a second-degree kidnapping charge can carry penalties including:

• Up to $500,000 in fines
• A maximum of eight years in prison

These penalties could increase should aggravating factors be present in the case.

First-Degree Kidnapping Penalties

A Class 3 felony, first-degree kidnapping charges can carry even harsher penalties, including:

• Up to $750,000 in fines
• A maximum of 16 years in prison

Again, aggravating factors could increase the sentence in a first-degree kidnapping case.

Post-Incarceration Consequences of Kidnapping Convictions

Once you’ve served your sentence and paid your fines for a kidnapping conviction in Colorado, there are still some rights you could lose, including:

• The Second Amendment right to own a firearm
• The ability to get a passport
• Access to some employment opportunities
• Child custody (in some cases)

While serving a prison sentence, people convicted of felonies are not permitted to vote in any elections. However, once released, voting rights are restored in Colorado, regardless of a felony record.

Contact a Colorado Springs Criminal Defense Lawyer Now

When you’re facing criminal charges of any kind, you need criminal law experts on your side to ensure you’re treated fairly, and your rights aren’t infringed upon throughout the legal process.

Speak with a Colorado Springs kidnapping attorney to discuss your legal options. Call now for a free consultation.