Kidnapping Criminal Defense Attorney in St. Petersburg

Defending Kidnapping Charges in Florida with Prosecutorial Insight

Before I defended kidnapping charges, I spent six years prosecuting felonies in Pinellas County, focusing on domestic violence and child abuse cases. Those are the same circumstances from which most kidnapping and confinement charges in Florida arise. I know how prosecutors build these cases because I built them. That background now works entirely in my clients’ favor. With more than 29 years of criminal defense experience serving St. Petersburg, FL, I’ve protected the constitutional rights of people facing the most serious charges Florida courts handle.

A kidnapping charge carries the possibility of life in prison. Don’t wait to get answers. Call (727) 617-6095 to schedule a free consultation with me directly.

What Florida Law Defines as Kidnapping

Under Florida Statute 787.01, kidnapping means forcibly, secretly, or by threat confining, abducting, or imprisoning another person against their will and without lawful authority. The physical act alone isn’t enough for a conviction. The state must also prove that the confinement served one of four specific purposes, and that intent element is often the most important battleground in a kidnapping defense.

The state must prove the confinement served one of these four purposes:

• Holding the victim for ransom, reward, or as a shield or hostage
• Committing or facilitating another felony
• Inflicting bodily harm or terrorizing the victim
• Interfering with a governmental or political function

When the alleged victim is a child under 13, Florida law presumes confinement was against the child’s will unless the child’s parent or legal guardian gave consent. That distinction matters in cases involving custody disputes or family situations.

Kidnapping Penalties Under Florida Law

Kidnapping is a first-degree felony in Florida, and the sentencing exposure is severe. Under Florida’s Criminal Punishment Code, it carries a Level 9 severity ranking. Without grounds for a downward departure, courts must impose a mandatory minimum of four years in prison. The statutory maximum is life. A conviction also carries a fine of up to $10,000.

These are general penalty ranges under Florida law. What you actually face depends on the facts, your record, and how the case is resolved. When we talk, I can give you a direct assessment of where things stand.