Kidnapping in Massachusetts is a very serious crime. Massachusetts laws break kidnapping down into five distinct crimes and the penalties for each can be severe. Depending on the facts of your case prosecutors in Massachusetts can charge you with kidnapping if you 1) forcibly or secretly confining or imprisoning someone against his will, 2) forcibly or secretly confining or imprisoning someone against his will for the purpose of extorting money or other items of value, 3) use a gun to commit the act of kidnapping, 4) use a dangerous weapon and inflict serious bodily injury or sexually assault a person during the commission of the kidnapping and 5) kidnap a child under the age of sixteen (16).

You can be found guilty and sentenced to prison for kidnapping in Massachusetts if you do one of the following:

• Forcibly or secretly confining or imprisoning someone against his will. You do not have to use physical force to be convicted of kidnapping in this manner in Massachusetts. If convicted of kidnapping in Massachusetts under this law you can go to prison for up to ten (10) years;
• Kidnap someone for the purpose of extorting money. If a Massachusetts jury convicts you for kidnapping with the intent to get money the judge must sentence you to twenty (20) years;
• If you use a gun during the course of the kidnapping in Massachusetts you face a prison sentence of a minimum ten (10) years;
• If you use a dangerous weapon during a kidnapping in Massachusetts and serious bodily injury results or you sexually assault the person who was kidnapped a judge must sentence you to twenty five (25) years in prison;
• If you kidnap a person who is not yet 16 years of age you can go to prison for up to fifteen (15) years.

If you have been charged with kidnapping in Massachusetts you should contact criminal attorney Kathleen McCarthy. Kathleen McCarthy is a Massachusetts criminal defense lawyer with offices in Boston and the suburbs who has the knowledge and experience necessary to defend you if you have been charged with kidnapping. As a former prosecutor who handled Massachusetts kidnapping cases Kathleen McCarthy understands how important it is to act quickly to protect your legal rights.

If you need a criminal lawyer who is familiar with the Massachusetts legal system contact Attorney Kathleen McCarthy online or call 978-975-8060 now.