Houston Kidnapping Defense Lawyer

Providing Clients with Legal Guidance

Being accused of kidnapping someone can be devastating, especially when there is much more to the story than this criminal charge. If your arrest was the result of a misunderstanding and you want to avoid severe penalties, it’s essential that you hire a Houston kidnapping defense attorney to represent you in court.

The legal team at the Cory Roth Law Office has successfully defended several clients from serious criminal charges over the years, and we can do the same for you. Call our Houston law office to schedule an initial consultation with a compassionate criminal defense lawyer.

How Does Texas Law Define Kidnapping?

If you’ve been charged with kidnapping in Texas, it’s important to understand what you’ve been accused of. A kidnapping offense involves knowingly and intentionally abducting someone. Note that Texas makes a distinction between abduction and unlawful restraint when it comes to kidnapping charges.

For example, abduction means you allegedly restrained the victim to prevent them from leaving. This may be done by using or threatening deadly force or hiding the person so they’re unlikely to be found.

By contrast, Texas law defines unlawful restraint as restricting a person’s movement by moving them or confining them in a space without consent. If you forced, deceived, or intimidated them into remaining in a confined space, you did not have their consent.

The same is true if the victim is under the age of 14 and you did not get consent from their parent or legal guardian. Similarly, if they’re between 14 and 17 and you took them out of state or more than 120 miles from their home, you could be charged with unlawful restraint.

If you’re unsure what crime you’re being charged with, contact our Houston law firm to discuss your case and the penalties you face if convicted. Once you understand the charges, we can begin working on a defense angle to help you avoid being convicted or at least reduce your penalties.

What Are the Degrees of Kidnapping Charges in Texas?

As your case begins, you should become familiar with the different kidnapping charges and their penalties in Texas. One such charge is unlawful restraint, a Class A misdemeanor with penalties that include up to $4,000 in fines and up to one year in jail. However, if the victim was a public servant or exposed to a risk of serious bodily injury, unlawful restraint may be considered a third-degree felony with up to $10,000 in fines and two to ten years in prison.

Another third-degree felony is unlawful transport, which means you’re accused of abducting the victim so they’re hidden from law enforcement and at risk of suffering severe bodily injury or death. If convicted, you could be punished by up to $10,000 in fines and 180 days to two years in prison. You could be charged with a first or second-degree felony if the alleged victim is a child or was sexually assaulted, severely injured, or killed as a result of unlawful transport.

If you’re charged with ordinary kidnapping in Texas, you face a third-degree felony punishable by two to ten years in prison, plus a fine of up to $10,000. However, the penalties are more severe if you’re charged with aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony that could result in five to 99 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. You could be charged with aggravated kidnapping if you’re accused of any of the following:

Abducting the victim for ransom, hostage, leverage, or to be used as a human shield
Using a deadly weapon on the victim
Terrorizing, inflicting bodily harm on, or sexually abusing the victim
Interfering with a government or political function by abducting the victim

Any of these actions can raise your kidnapping charge to the level of aggravated kidnapping, but you can reduce the charge to a second-degree felony if you voluntarily release the victim to a safe place. Getting legal guidance from an experienced Houston kidnapping defense lawyer can also minimize your charges and possible penalties, so call our law firm today.

How Can You Defend Yourself from Kidnapping Charges?

The penalties you face for kidnapping charges are serious, but the prosecution team will have to prove the case against you first, and a skillful lawyer may be able to prevent this from happening. Some of the most common defense strategies for kidnapping charges include:

You did not intend to abduct the victim
You did not intend to threaten or use deadly force against the victim
You’re a relative of the alleged victim
You intended to take lawful control of the alleged victim
You released the victim to a safe location
You have a strong alibi and therefore could not have committed the crime

Your lawyer will review the details of your case before determining the most appropriate defense angle to take. Call our Houston law firm if you’re ready to learn more about how we can defend you from serious kidnapping charges in Texas.

Are You Ready to Hire a Houston Kidnapping Defense Attorney?

Whether you’ve been charged with a misdemeanor or felony offense, you might be worried about losing your freedom and paying expensive fines to the court if convicted. That’s why it’s essential to hire an experienced lawyer who has the legal knowledge and experience necessary to defend you against kidnapping charges in Texas.

At the Cory Roth Law Office, we take pride in ensuring every client gets a fair trial with representation by a knowledgeable attorney. We realize how much it matters for your voice to be heard during your case so you have a chance of avoiding conviction, which is why we work hard to provide quality legal service. Call 832-400-4133 today to discuss your case with a caring Houston kidnapping defense attorney.