Orlando Kidnapping Defense Lawyer

Charged with Kidnapping in Orlando, FL?

With a strong commitment to fairness, we aggressively defend against kidnapping charges in Orlando.

Terms like false imprisonment, human trafficking, and kidnapping conjure up images of abducting someone off the street, locking someone in a hidden room, or selling human beings on the black market. While these criminal acts do occur, personal liberty crimes can be much more commonplace. Preventing someone from leaving a building––for example, you are in an argument, and you block the door––can get you charged with false imprisonment in Orlando, Florida, and anywhere else throughout the state.

Charges of kidnapping and related crimes carry substantial penalties. The consequences can impact your life in more ways than one. If you have been charged with a personal liberty crime, you want an experienced defense attorney who knows the law, knows how to argue the law, and is deeply committed to fairness in the court system. Fill out the form or call our kidnapping defense lawyer at Panella Law Firm today at 407-233-1822 to set up a consultation.

Why Hire an Aggressive, Resourceful Orlando Kidnapping Charge Lawyer

Charges of kidnapping or related crimes are serious. The consequences for you are even more so. But you have options. You can hire a lawyer for kidnapping charges, but not just any lawyer will do. The State of Florida aggressively pursues these types of cases. So, you need a criminal defense lawyer who will also aggressively defend your case and advocate for your rights.

At Panella Law Firm, we are undefeated at trial. We are undefeated because, first and foremost, we consider each of our clients as individuals with a constitutional right to defend themselves. You are innocent until proven guilty beyond a doubt, and we pursue every opportunity to create that doubt.

At Panella Law Firm, we are also deeply dedicated to our criminal defense practice. We expect fairness in the criminal system and work to make sure fairness is upheld. That means we won’t let the prosecutor take advantage of any situation or try to manipulate the facts.

Further, at Panella Law Firm, we recognize that people make mistakes––we all do. Sometimes, however, these mistakes are more serious and grave than others. If it’s in your best interests, we will negotiate a fair plea deal.

Our Orlando kidnapping defense lawyer will use experience, insight from that experience, and skill to put together a strong defense. We won’t give up, but follow any leads to develop your case and obtain the right result. If you are innocent, we use our skills to prove it. If you made a mistake, we still use all our skills and effort to make sure you are able to get your life back as soon as possible.

But you don’t have to take our word for it. Our former clients attest to how hard we work for them to get the best outcome in their unique situations.

Kidnapping and Related Personal Liberty Crimes in Florida

Personal liberty crimes, like kidnapping, refer to crimes that encroach on another person’s personal freedom. Specifically, kidnapping under Florida Statute § 787.01 involves . . .

…forcibly, secretly, or by threat confining, abducting, or imprisoning another person against her or his will and without lawful authority, with intent to:

1. Hold for ransom or reward or as a shield or hostage.
2. Commit or facilitate commission of any felony.
3. Inflict bodily harm upon or to terrorize the victim or another person.
4. Interfere with the performance of any governmental or political function.

Examples of Situations that Can Result in Kidnapping Charges in Orlando

Kidnapping is obvious in some cases, while in others it’s not. Here are two examples of everyday situations that could turn into a criminal charge.

1. Argument in a Vehicle. A person may have been with you by consent in your vehicle. Then, something occurs, and that person wants to get out of the car, but you can’t pull over immediately. Alternatively, maybe you didn’t want to let the person leave because you want to neutralize the situation. That person could call the police and get you into trouble with the law.
2. Divorce with Children. This example happens relatively frequently. A parent is bitter with the ex-spouse, and so when the ex-spouse is late bringing back the children, the bitter parent calls the police to file a kidnapping report.

Kidnapping isn’t the only personal liberty crime that can get you into trouble. The below crimes are sometimes charged alongside kidnapping or on their own.

• Stalking. Stalking occurs when a persona willfully or maliciously and repeatedly follows, harasses, or cyberstalks another person. Since the advent of social media, there has been an increase in stalking charges throughout Orlando. Many people are unclear about the definition of stalking, especially with respect to cyberstalk. It could mean writing threatening emails and releasing “revenge porn,” among other criminal acts.
• False Imprisonment. False imprisonment includes locking an individual in an enclosed space or preventing their free movement. This crime is often charged after domestic violence incidents or allegations of domestic violence.
• Human Trafficking. Human trafficking refers to direct or indirect aiding or coercion of a person to provide labor or sexual services.

The legal system in Orlando, Florida, doesn’t take personal liberty crimes lightly. Neither should you. Call our office today to retain an experienced kidnapping charge lawyer.

Consequences of a Kidnapping Conviction in Florida

The consequences of a kidnapping conviction are severe. Kidnapping is a first-degree felony. Under Florida law, you face:

• Up to life in prison
• Life on probation
• Fines up to $10,000.

If there were any aggravating circumstances or the person kidnapped was a child, the penalties can be more severe.

But there’s more: When you get out of prison, you are a convicted felon. That fact alone has a serious impact on the quality of your life. You may not own or possess firearms. You may not be able to vote. If you had a professional license, you may not be able to get it back. Your travel may be restricted for some time if you are released on probation.

So, there’s a lot to consider and many reasons why you want a kidnapping defense attorney in Orlando who knows the law, understands the court system, and wins criminal cases. You also want a criminal defense attorney who knows how to appeal a criminal case in Orlando if the original verdict isn’t in your favor. As we said: people make mistakes. At Panella Law Firm, we will identify any mistake made by the court or the prosecutor and use that to appeal your kidnapping case, if applicable.

Defenses to an Orlando Kidnapping Charge

You can beat a kidnapping charge. Remember: You are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The State of Florida has the burden to prove its case against you. At Panella Law Firm, we use all our resources to defend against any kidnapping or related personal liberty charges.

Defenses we may be able to use in developing our defense strategy for your Orlando kidnapping charge include but are not limited to:

• Lack of intent, meaning you did not intend to harm the person.
• Mistake of fact or lack of knowledge, meaning maybe some fact was not readily available to you.
• Relative, meaning the alleged victim was a relative whom you have the right to or were authorized to control (e.g., parent).
• Consent, meaning the victim consented to leave with you.
• Insanity or mental disease/defect, meaning you didn’t have the capacity to understand what you were doing.

We have other strategies we can use, too, to pursue fair proceedings. We can file motions to suppress evidence that was obtained or handled unlawfully. We can file motions to dismiss based on any number of things that may be present, like the lack of sufficient evidence or a violation of your right to a speedy trial.

The facts and circumstances around any given kidnapping case in Florida will be unique. We will develop a strong defense based on the unique facts and circumstances for your case. What works for one case may not work for you. The important thing here is building a solid defense that yields the best outcome for you.

Contact an Accomplished Orlando Kidnapping Defense Lawyer

Kidnapping charges are serious. We can’t stress this fact enough. You should be serious about finding a kidnapping charge attorney in Orlando who is ready to go the extra step for you. At Panella Law Firm, we hold the State of Florida accountable to the notion that you are innocent until proven guilty. We will use our legal know-how, skill, and tenacity to get the job done.

Remember: The sooner we can investigate your case, the sooner we can get started to secure your rights and freedom. If you have been charged with kidnapping, contact our office today at 407-233-1822 or fill out the online form.