A client got into a domestic argument with his fiancée. When police responded to the scene, they watched surveillance video from a nearby business, which showed the couple arguing, and what appeared to the police as the client forcing his fiancee into his car, and driving away. As a result of this, the client was charged with Aggravated Kidnapping, an offense that carries a minimum 8-year prison sentence upon conviction and is not eligible for probation or parole.
When Bryan got onto the case, he interviewed the alleged victim; it was obvious that she left with the client voluntarily. Bryan got the detective to show him the video, which made it clear to Bryan that the police claim of kidnapping was an exaggeration of the evidence. Then Bryan asked the prosecutor to review the video with him and pointed out all the factors that showed it was not a kidnapping. Once the ADA watched the video and heard Bryan’s arguments, the ADA decided not to prosecute the Kidnapping charge, proving the adage, “Just because the police say something is true, does not necessarily make it so!”
A felony of this severity normally isn’t resolved for many months, or sometimes years, and usually must be transferred to criminal court . However, because of Bryan’s quick and thorough work, the case was resolved in less than three months, and it stayed in general sessions court.
