St. Petersburg Criminal Lawyer Blog
Parents involved in custody disputes will often disagree with how the courts divide parental rights and parenting time. Regardless of whether a parent agrees with a court’s decision in a custody case, however, they must abide by it. If they do not, and take or retain a child without permission, they may be accused of kidnapping or interfering with child custody. If they are subsequently found guilty of such crimes, their penalties must align with Florida law, and if they do not, they may be vacated, as demonstrated in a recent Florida case. If you are charged with kidnapping, it is smart to meet with a St. Petersburg kidnapping defense lawyer to assess your options.
Case Setting
It is reported that the defendant was convicted of kidnapping and interference with child custody. She challenged her convictions on the basis that she was entitled to a twelve-person jury under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. The trial court denied this claim, leading to the defendant’s appeal.
Allegedly, the defendant also contested three aspects of her sentencing: the trial court’s consideration of injuries sustained by an aggravated battery victim, even though she was acquitted of aggravated battery and simple battery charges; the classification of kidnapping as a capital felony, which precluded her eligibility for a downward departure in sentencing; and the imposition of a $746 prosecution cost without proper evidence or factual findings to justify exceeding the $100 statutory minimum. Continue reading →