I take great pleasure in sharing stories of case dismissals because they serve as a beacon of hope, demonstrating that not every case that the prosecutors file and the police investigate is a strong one. Recently, I had a case in the LAX Airport Court that ended with a dismissal, much to the relief of our client.
The client was charged with kidnapping, and it really just wasn't a good case. But, it's one of those situations where if you fight the government, if you fight the prosecutors, and you lose, your client goes to prison for life.
That's the bad thing about some of the kidnapping charges. California Penal Code Section 209 PC is the one that hits you with a life sentence. That really puts the defendant in a bad situation depending on, of course, what the circumstances of the case are.
Kidnapping to Commit Rape Allegation
In our case, I don't really like to get into all of the details because I like to keep things private. But, in our case, they were alleging that the alleged victim was carried somewhere for the purpose of raping her.
It was a really scary situation because everybody was drunk, and we really had a strong argument that no matter what, there was consensual activity going on earlier in the night, and then it was just a matter of what happened after that.
The bottom line is this: these kidnapping charges get overblown all the time. In other words, it's not your standard kidnapping where somebody grabs somebody off the street:
- throws a bag over their head,
- throws them in the trunk of their car,
- moves them for purposes of kidnapping them for ransom.
I mean, to me, that's the classic kidnapping that you would think of when somebody talks about a kidnapping charge in Los Angeles.
But the prosecutors and police twist some of these cases, where all you have to do is move the person a decent distance, and all of a sudden, you're kidnapping that person versus just the underlying crime of what's going on. In other words, they take it too far.
They have to throw that kidnapping charge on the back of it in order to really have power against the defendant when they negotiate because the prosecutors are going to say, here's our offer. If you don't like it, go to trial. Now, you're going to risk going to prison for life.
Negotiation on Penal Code 209 Kidnapping Charges
So, if you or a loved one is charged with kidnapping in Los Angeles County, look up the Hedding Law Firm. My name is Ron Hedding. I've been doing this for 27 years now.
As a seasoned criminal defense attorney, I've handled numerous kidnapping cases over my 27-year career. I have a deep understanding of how to negotiate with the prosecutor for reduced charges or even a case dismissal, providing our clients with the best possible outcome.
Don't be tricked by these lawyers who claim to be former prosecutors and have only been defending people for less than 10 years.
That's not the attorney you want in a kidnapping case where you're facing life.
Criminal Defense Attorney for California Crimes
You want a true defense attorney who's been defending people for 25-plus years if someone is charged with kidnapping. Don't be tricked. Who cares if they were a prosecutor?
Most of the cases the prosecutors get are handed to them. Over 90% of their cases, they've got the evidence. It's probably better than a 95% plea bargain rate. Who cares about that?
When it comes to defending someone facing life-altering charges, it's not about the statistics or the easy wins. It's about having the skill set and the unwavering determination to fight for your rights. That's the kind of defense you can expect from the Hedding Law Firm.
So, just because someone says they are a former prosecutor, I want a defense attorney every single time. I worked for the Das office in 1992, but I've worked for a judge since 1992, and since 1994, I've been the guiding force behind the Hedding Law Firm.
So, pick up the phone. Ask for a meeting with Ron Hedding. I stand at the ready to help you. Hedding Law Firm is a top-rated criminal defense law firm located in Los Angeles County at 16000 Ventura Blvd #1208 Encino, CA 91436.
We represent clients in Southern California Courts, including those in LA, Orange, Ventura, Hollywood, Riverside, and San Bernardino. Contact us for a free case evaluation at (213) 542-0979.
