Giavonna Vizard is safe at home after being abducted by three teenage girls: Shawnice Reese, 16, Jenny Dominique, 16, and (who is believed to be ) Lisa Keitt, 13. The one-year-old baby girl is Keitt's niece.
As of yet, it is unknown why the baby was kidnapped. What is known, is that the girls might need the help of a New York criminal defense attorney because they were charged with "kidnapping, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child" (as reported by NY 1).
These are all very serious charges, and depending on the degree of the kidnapping charge, the teens could face life in prison.
Based on the New York Penal Code, kidnapping in the second degree is when a person "abducts another person." This alone is a class B felony, which could be a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and a fine of $30,000.
This is the lesser of the two kidnapping charges.
If the teens are convicted of kidnapping in the first degree, they could face between 25 and 15 years and a fine of $100,000 (Section 125.35). This class A-I felony is a heavy offense, so the criminals have to meet several requirements, according to the New York Penal Code.
Not only do they have to abduct someone, but they also have to do either one of three things: intend to ransom the person they abducted, cause (or plan to cause) physical or mental injury in a period of more than 12 hours, or have the abducted person die in their care (Section 135.25 of the New York Penal Code).
The only defense for kidnapping is if "the defendant was a relative of the person abducted and... his sole purpose was to assume control of such person" (Section 135.30).
- Do you need a New York criminal defense attorney? (FindLaw)
- What counts as child endangerment? (FindLaw)
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