Washington Criminal Defense Lawyer: Kidnapping
Under Washington law, the term kidnapping has a very technical meaning and is different from the crime of custodial interference. A custodial interference charge involves a parent or relative of a child, who unlawfully takes or keeps a child, usually with the intent of keeping the child permanently or for a protracted period of time (Revised Code of Washington 9A.40).
Depending on the person's intent, they may be charged with custodial interference in the first degree or custodial interference in the second degree. Both are serious crimes and carry the potential for jail time (RCW 9A.40.060 and 9A.40.070).
By comparison, kidnapping is a criminal charge that requires the intent to further a crime, harm a child, seek ransom, interfere with governmental functions, or achieve other nefarious objectives. People charged with kidnapping in the first or second degree are often unrelated to the child. In fact, a defense to the charge of kidnapping in the second degree is proving that the defendant is a relative of the child and has taken the child for no other purpose than to assume custody of the child (RCW 9A.40.030).
Have You Been Charged with Kidnapping or Custodial Interference?
If you have been arrested for kidnapping or custodial interference in Washington, I encourage you to contact me, attorney Jeff Goldstein. I represent clients throughout central Washington and western Washington, including Pierce County, Thurston County, King County and Snohomish County.
If you need to speak with an attorney about a kidnapping or custodial interference charge, call 866.678.1382, or contact me by e-mail.
