Did you know that kidnapping in Tennessee may be considered a form of sex crime that may result in a defendant being required to register as a sex offender? According to the Tennessee statutes, this may be the case if the alleged victim is under the age of 18 and is not your child. If so, an act may be classified as aggravated kidnapping. But, what exactly can constitute aggravated kidnapping.
Under Tennessee law, this crime may be defined as a false imprisonment characterized by one of several factors. One of these is the use of or the threat of the use of a weapon that may be considered deadly. Another is the result of any injury or harm to an alleged victim. Additionally, if a prosecutor can argue that a defendant meant to terrorize or harm someone, a charge of aggravated kidnapping may result. The alleged imprisonment of a minor done for the purpose of carrying out some other felony crime or enabling some other felony crime to take place may also lead to these charges. So too can hampering any type of political or governmental event.
It is important to know that the state does consider a defendant’s willingness to help authorities locate an alleged kidnapping victim or to voluntarily let a person go free may help a defendant during the criminal defense process.
This information is not intended to provide legal advice but is instead meant to give Tennessee residents an overview of what the state may consider to be aggravated kidnapping.
