Southern California Criminal Lawyer Blog
No one wants to face accusations of a crime they didn’t commit, especially a crime as awful as false imprisonment. The accusation, charge, and conviction of false imprisonment will ruin your reputation, impede your life’s goals, and put you behind bars for years. Thankfully, you won’t have to worry about any of this happening to you if you hire seasoned criminal defense lawyers from The Justice Firm. You can arm yourself with a team of diligent, highly decorated legal experts who specialize in defending against false imprisonment charges.
California’s False Imprisonment Laws
California’s false imprisonment law is succinct. False imprisonment occurs when you deprive someone of their liberty. It’s holding people against their will by using restraints or force. For example, suppose that you are at home with your boyfriend, who wants to leave. Instead of letting him go, you use a rope to tie his hands behind his back, and you hold a knife to his throat. In this case, you’re actively depriving him of his liberty.
But it’s not always so aggressive and extreme. Suppose you’re an employer, and you’re interviewing a potential employee. During the interview, you’re called outside. Once you step outside, you lock the door from the outside so that the potential employee cannot leave. If the potential employee wanted to go at some point during this moment, you might be accused of false imprisonment.
Penalties
False imprisonment is a wobbler offense. This means that a prosecutor can charge you with a misdemeanor or felony. If you’re charged with and convicted of a misdemeanor, you may serve up to one year in county jail and pay a fine of up to $1000. If you’re charged with and convicted of a felony, you may serve up to three years in prison and pay a fine of up to $10,000. Certain enhancements apply. For example, if you falsely imprison an elderly or dependent person, a judge can add another four years to your sentence. This enhancement will increase if you inflict bodily injury onto the person.
Contact A Reputable Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer
Your freedom and reputation are at risk when officers arrest you and accuse you of committing a violent crime. Violent misdemeanor crimes can result in a year in county jail, but a violent felony can result in a life sentence. Don’t let this happen to you. The Justice Firm is equipped with experienced Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers with accolades and results that you can trust. You can view a complete list of our reputable lawyers here. We offer immediate responses to your inquiries through our 24/7 live answering service. You may call us toll-free at 866-695-6714 or locally at 310-914-2444. To schedule a free consultation, you may also fill out our contact form here.
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