Kidnapping is often considered a crime only practiced in third-world countries like El Salvador and Ecuador. However, it certainly occurs here in the United States, but often in a far less serious newsworthy context. In fact, it is a crime that takes place often in the context of domestic violence for just a few minutes or maybe an hour, although with great danger to the victim.

Make no mistake about it: both kidnapping and aggravated kidnapping are serious crimes with huge punishment if a conviction is reached. They are both “strike offenses” under California’s Three Strikes law, meaning one must serve a minimum of 85% of the sentence, which can be well over ten years if there are sentence enhancements such as for using a gun, causing serious bodily injury or committing the offense for the benefit of a criminal street gang.