Kidnapping

What is Kidnapping?

As defined in South Carolina law, kidnapping is a felony. Three elements determine this charge:

1. The defendant must seize and transport away another person.
2. The defendant acted against the victim’s will.
3. The defendant acted without the authority of law.

This charge is governed by S.C. Code § 16-3-910, which states:

Whoever shall unlawfully seize, confine, inveigle, decoy, kidnap, abduct or carry away any other person by any means whatsoever without authority of law, except when a minor is seized or taken by his parent, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for a period not to exceed thirty years unless sentenced for murder as provided in Section 16-3-20.

What does it mean to be charged with Kidnapping in South Carolina?

If somebody is charged with kidnapping in South Carolina, it generally means that they are accused of seizing and transporting another person unlawfully. If convicted, offenders could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison for kidnapping.

Example of Kidnapping

An example of kidnapping would be if Ben forcibly seizes Jerry and takes him to Ben’s house. Ben keeps Jerry there until Jerry promises to give him money. After this, Ben lets Jerry go. Ben committed a kidnapping from the moment he seized Jerry until he let Jerry go.

Who should I call if I’ve been charged with Kidnapping?

If you’ve been charged with kidnapping, you’ll need a lawyer as soon as possible. Contact a criminal defense attorney who can help you make the right decisions on your case. Choose someone with kidnapping defense experience.

If you’re looking for a kidnapping lawyer in Lexington or South Carolina, choose someone who knows the court system in South Carolina. An experienced criminal defense attorney can help you face these charges.

Judah VanSyckel is a Lexington lawyer with experience defending kidnapping charges. Contact our offices to set up a free consultation.