Salt Lake Criminal Defense Attorney - Utah Kidnapping Attorney
A charge of kidnapping in Utah can result in a felony conviction and a
substantial prison sentence. As an experienced Utah
criminal defense
attorney, Stephen Howard has successfully defended clients faced with
aggravated kidnapping,
child kidnapping,
and more. Based in Salt Lake
City, Mr. Howard provides legal services to clients throughout Utah.
Contact us today for an initial consultation. When facing serious
charges, you need an experienced attorney with a record of achieving
real results.
Elements of a Kidnapping Charge in Utah
The
elements of kidnapping under Utah Code 76-5-301 include detaining or
restraining another person against their will and without legal
authority, for a substantial period of time or under circumstances that
expose the victim to a risk of bodily injury. A simple
kidnapping
charge is classified as a second degree
felony,
punishable by up to 15
years in prison. With enhancements for child kidnapping or aggravated
kidnapping, the offense level can rise to a first degree felony and may
carry a mandatory life prison sentence under some circumstances.
Related charges under the Utah criminal code, which are typically
charged as
misdemeanors,
include
unlawful
detention and
custodial
interference.
In some kidnapping cases, a prosecutor may be willing to negotiate a
plea bargain involving one of these lesser misdemeanor charges instead
of a more serious felony kidnapping.
A felony kidnapping
charge is one of the more serious criminal charges under the Utah
code. In imposing
a
sentence, a judge can consider not only the legal elements of the
charge, but also the specific facts and circumstances of the case and
the background and history of the defendant. In many kidnapping cases,
the judge will have the option of imposing either a prison term or
placing the defendant on probation.
Finding a Utah Criminal Defense Attorney in Salt Lake
If
you are facing kidnapping or other criminal charges in Utah, you
need an
attorney on your side who is capable of defending and protecting your
rights. Stephen
Howard has handled thousands of serious felony charges, including
aggravated murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, and many
more. Whatever your charge, he
has
the
experience to help you get the results you need.
Based in Salt Lake City,
criminal defense attorney Stephen Howard
offers defense services to clients throughout all of Utah.
Contact us now to arrange
for an initial consultation and case analysis.