How is a Kidnapping in Oklahoma Charge Defined in Okmulgee?

Kidnapping in Oklahoma is a serious charge in Okmulgee.

However, this crime is not limited to taking children who aren’t yours.

Kidnapping also applies to abducting adults or even your own children.

If you’ve been charged with kidnapping in Oklahoma, contact an experienced Okmulgee criminal defense attorney.

Understanding Kidnapping in Oklahoma

Oklahoma state law defines kidnapping as intentionally doing one of the following:

Causes another person to be confined or imprisoned in this state against their will; or

Causes another person to be sent out of this state against their will; or

Causes another person to be sold as a slave, or in any way held to service against their will.

Under this law, a prosecutor must prove four elements beyond a reasonable doubt. The prosecutor must present evidence to show that someone suspected of kidnapping:

1) unlawfully

2) seized/confined/inveigled/decoyed/kidnapped/abducted/(carried away)

3) another person,

4) with the intent to (confine that person)/(imprison that person)/(send that person out of the State)/(sell that person as a slave)/(hold that person to service): against that person’s will.

Under this standard, a prosecutor must prove that the kidnapping occurred against the other person’s will, although it is not a defense that the alleged victim consented to the taking. The defendant must provide enough evidence to establish this to be true.