How Wyoming Defines Kidnapping
According to Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-201, kidnapping is when someone takes another person away from their home without permission or keeps them locked up for the purpose of holding them for ransom, committing a crime, terrorizing the victim or someone else, or getting in the way of a government function. The law makes a difference between kidnapping and unlawful restraint, which is a less serious charge, based on the reason for the confinement or movement.
Wyoming’s kidnapping law is broad enough to cover cases that defendants don’t think will be charged as kidnapping. In Wyoming courts, kidnapping charges have come up in cases where one person stops another from leaving, children are taken across state lines, or someone is held briefly while committing another crime.
Penalties for Kidnapping in Wyoming
In Wyoming, kidnapping is a serious crime. If the victim is not released unharmed in a safe place, the crime can lead to up to life in prison. The range of penalties is lower when the victim is released unharmed, but it can still be as long as twenty-five years. When you cross state lines, federal kidnapping charges under 18 U.S.C. § 1201 add another level.
How We Defend Kidnapping Charges in Wyoming
The defenses against kidnapping look at the intent and purpose parts of the law. Was there really a purpose of ransom, terrorization, or helping someone else commit a crime? We also question the facts of confinement or movement and see if the behavior really fits the legal definition. In cases where parents disagree about their children, the legality of the removal under Wyoming custody law is a key issue.
Penalty Grid
| Victim Unhamed | Victim Hamed | Federal Charges | Record |
| Up to 25 years | Up to life | Additional exposure | Permanent felony |
Related Charges We Also Defend
Why Clients in Wyoming and South Dakota Choose Just Criminal Law
Our attorneys spent years working for the state before switching sides. We know exactly how prosecutors build cases and exactly where to find the holes.
We do not split our focus between practice areas. Every attorney, every resource, every minute is focused on one thing: your criminal defense.
We know the courts, the judges, and the prosecutors across Wyoming and western South Dakota. Local familiarity shapes strategy and strategy shapes outcomes.
Servicios de traduccion en espanol disponibles. Every client fully understands their case, their options, and their rights.
Real Results for Wyoming & South Dakota Clients
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OtherSuppression Appeal — Wyoming Supreme CourtDistrict Court denied motion to suppress. Wyoming Supreme Court accepted certiorari on appeal.
Barney v. State of Wyoming — Wyoming Supreme Court
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CASE DISMISSEDReckless Endangering / Domestic Battery / Child Endangering — Wyoming
Client charged with reckless endangering, domestic battery, and child endangering. All charges dismissed.
State v. Quezada-Lopez — Wyoming Circuit Court
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CASE DISMISSEDDUI / DWUI — Wyoming
Client charged with DUI. State unable to lay foundation for the breath test. Case dismissed.
State v. Von Olnhausen — Wyoming Circuit Court
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CASE DISMISSEDFelony Child Abuse — Wyoming
Client charged with accessory after the fact and aggravated child abuse — a felony. State unable to meet its burden of proof at preliminary hearing. Felony count dismissed.
State v. Bullinger — Wyoming District Court
Charged with a crime in Wyoming? Time is critical.
The sooner you have an attorney, the more options you have.
What Clients Say About Just Criminal Law
Frequently asked questions about kidnapping charges in Wyoming
Wyoming Criminal Defense — Communities We Serve
We are based in Gillette, Wyoming, and serve clients across the state and into western South Dakota. Our team knows the local courts, prosecutors, and judges in every community we serve — and that local knowledge makes a real difference in criminal defense.
- Deadwood
- Sturgis (Rally)
- Custer County
- Lawrence County
- Meade County
- Pennington County
We provide on-call criminal defense for Rally-related arrests including DUI, drug charges, weapons offenses, and assault. Call us 24/7 during Rally week.
