Kidnapping is charged in Fort Collins and Larimer County when a person takes a child away with the intent to keep the child from his or her parent. A teacher was recently charged with this crime after what she claims was a misunderstanding. According to the report, the teacher saw a 5-year-old student, who was visibly upset, and decided to try and help her get home. She left her purse, phone, and even her own child at the school, took the hand of the child and started to walk home with her. The child, who is autistic and has trouble communicating, was not able to find her way home. The teacher stopped at a home to borrow a phone to call the school and tell them about the situation. The parents had since arrived at the school reporting that their daughter had not made it home. The teacher was later charged with the felony Kidnapping charge.
Larimer County 2nd Degree Kidnapping Lawyer: Definition of Kidnapping in Colorado
The Larimer County, Colorado law definition of Second Degree Kidnapping – C.R.S. 18-3-302 – is:
(2) Any person who takes, entices, or decoys away any child not his own under the age of eighteen years with intent to keep or conceal the child from his parent or guardian or with intent to sell, trade, or barter such child for consideration commits second degree kidnapping.
Because the teacher was accused of taking a child – not her own – and keeping her from her parents, she was charged with this crime.
How Can Helping a Student or Child Be Kidnapping in Loveland and Estes Park?
Second Degree Kidnapping is a class 4 felony in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park. It seems ridiculous to me that the teacher would be facing a felony charge for this situation. First of all, if the child couldn’t lead the teacher to her home, why was she walking home alone? The article said that the parents came to the school to report that the girl had not made it home, meaning she was supposed to walk home independently. Secondly, if the teacher was trying to take the child, wouldn’t she have taken her things? And why would she call the school not long after to tell them where she was and what had happened. They only made it about half a mile from the school. It’s not like she was close to the border of Mexico and then changed her mind. To me, this sounds like a woman trying to help and getting burned for being kind.
If you or someone you love has been charged with Kidnapping, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 to schedule your free consultation or set up a Larimer County Jail visit. Together, we can protect your future.
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