California Penal Code Section 207 Kidnapping

What are the factors or elements for 207 PC Kidnapping? 

“Kidnapping” is the carrying a victim a substantial distance  the use of force or fear. You violate California’s kidnapping laws, found under Penal Code 207, 208, 209 and 209.5 PC, when you:

  • Move another person,
    • A substantial distance– meaning more than a slight or trivial distance,
    • Without the person’s consent,
    • Using force or fear.
      • “Force or fear” means
      • that you actually inflicted physical force upon the alleged victim(s), or
      • that you threatened to inflict imminent physical harm.
  • kidnap a child for sexual molestation,
  • Kidnap a person for ransom,
  • Cause the victim to suffer serious bodily harm or death,
  • Kidnap another person during a carjacking, or
  • Violate a number of other laws that relate to kidnapping,


Aggravated kidnapping is a more serious charge, a conviction for which carries life in prison.
Examples of kidnapping
• Tying someone up, moving her to a desolate location, then calling her family and demanding that they pay ransom to gain her release.
• Holding a gun to someone’s head, and demanding that he drives you away from the store you just robbed.
• Ordering a woman out of a busy store, out onto the street, into a back alley and then into your car to rape her, all under the threat of killing her daughter if she doesn’t go with you.
• Telling your girlfriend’s 8-year-old son that you are taking him to the movies when, in fact, you have no such intention and are simply “hiding” him from his mother after finding out that she cheated on you.

Legal Consequences

Kidnapping is a felony that can land you in California state prison for up to eleven(11) years.  Aggravated kidnapping, which is also a felony, carries a sentence life in prison without the possibility of parole.

How can we successfully defend you against a charge of violating California Penal Code 207 PC Kidnapping?

There are many defenses that may be raised to fight a charge of “kidnapping” in California. Below are some of the most common ones:

  • Good Faith Belief in Consent:If the defendant had a reasonable belief that the victim consented to the movement, then the defendant is not guilty of kidnapping.
  • Consent: If the victim actually consented to the movement, then the defendant is not guilty of kidnapping.  The other person consented if he/she:
    • Freely and voluntarily agreed to go with or be moved by the defendant
    • Knew of the movement, and
    • Had enough maturity and understanding to choose to go with the defendant.

  • “Consent” may be withdrawn.  If, at first, a person agreed to go with the defendant, the person’s consent ended if the person changed his or her mind and no longer freely and voluntarily agreed to go with or be moved by the defendant.  The defendant is guilty of kidnapping if after the other person withdrew consent, the defendant committed the kidnapping.
  • Insufficient movement: If the movement was slight and/or trivial, the defendant’s act will not meet the “substantial movement” requirement for kidnapping.  See examples of “substantial movement” above.
  • False Accusation/Insufficient Evidence: Often times, people who are going through a highly contentious divorce involving a custody battle, may let things get out of hand, and end up accusing each other of kidnapping their own child.  The defendant cannot be convicted of kidnapping absent actual evidence of kidnapping, such as phone records that indicate that the victim called for help after being taken, or was taken and moved without his/her consent, and/or that the kidnapping parent has no lawful custody over the child.

Contact us:

We have been successfully defending clients facing all types of criminal charges in Sonoma and Marin Counties, since 1992.

The 100 Trial Lawyers Association has recognized us as one of the best criminal defense attorneys in the country!

Please call our office today at (707) 571-8600 in our centrally located Santa Rosa office in Sonoma County or call our office in San Rafael in Marin County at (415) 492-4507 to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation.

Don’t bargain with your freedom! The right attorney makes all the difference between your freedom and incarceration!