Indianapolis Criminal Confinement Lawyer

Criminal confinement charges in Indiana are prosecuted aggressively, and a conviction can mean years in prison, a felony record, and consequences that reshape every part of your life going forward. The charge covers a wide range of conduct, from domestic disputes and road rage incidents to situations where the full facts tell a very different story than what law enforcement recorded at the scene. What makes these cases especially high-stakes is that prosecutors often pair confinement charges with other serious offenses, and the penalties stack up quickly. If you are looking for an Indianapolis criminal confinement lawyer, understanding what this charge actually involves, and what it takes to defend against it, is the starting point.

Under Indiana law, criminal confinement involves knowingly or intentionally confining another person without their consent or removing them by fraud, enticement, force, or threat from one place to another. The statute does not require that anyone be physically restrained for an extended period. Even a brief restriction of movement can satisfy the elements of the offense if a prosecutor believes they can show intent. That breadth is exactly what makes this charge so difficult to navigate without legal representation. Depending on the circumstances, criminal confinement can be charged as a Level 6 felony, a Level 5 felony, or even higher-level offenses when aggravating factors are present.

The specifics of your case determine everything: what was charged, what evidence exists, what defenses apply, and what the realistic outcomes look like. None of that analysis happens without a lawyer who knows both the statute and how Marion County and surrounding courts actually handle these cases.

What Criminal Confinement Charges Actually Look Like in Indiana Courts

One thing that surprises people charged with criminal confinement is how often the charge arises from situations that did not feel like a kidnapping or hostage scenario to anyone involved. Indiana’s confinement statute is broad enough that domestic arguments, heated confrontations, or disputes that escalated briefly can all produce a criminal confinement charge. That does not mean the charge is weak or easy to dismiss, but it does mean that context matters enormously and that the government’s framing of the facts is not the only way to tell the story.

Confinement charges also frequently appear alongside other offenses. A domestic battery case may include a confinement count. A robbery charge may be accompanied by confinement. When charges are stacked, plea negotiations become more complex, and the pressure on a defendant to accept an unfavorable deal increases. Understanding how these charges interact with each other, and how Marion County prosecutors typically approach multi-count cases, is knowledge that only comes from courtroom experience in these specific courts.

The defense approach depends on the evidence. Surveillance footage, witness statements, cell phone location data, and medical records can all be relevant. So can inconsistencies in the complaining witness’s account, prior history between the parties, and any communications that contradict the prosecution’s narrative. An Indianapolis criminal confinement attorney who works these cases regularly knows what to look for and how to use it.

Charges That Often Arise Alongside Criminal Confinement

• Domestic Battery: When a confinement allegation arises during a domestic dispute, battery charges frequently accompany it under Indiana Code. These combined charges affect bond conditions, protective orders, and the overall trajectory of the case through Marion County courts.
• Strangulation: Indiana law treats strangulation as a serious standalone felony, and when it is alleged in the same incident as confinement, the combined exposure at sentencing increases substantially.
• Kidnapping: Kidnapping is the more serious charge under Indiana’s criminal code and shares overlapping elements with confinement. Prosecutors sometimes charge both, and the distinction between them can significantly affect available sentences.
• Robbery: When confinement is alleged to have occurred during a theft or robbery, the felony level of the confinement charge often increases and the case takes on a completely different character in court.
• Interference with Reporting a Crime: In domestic situations, prosecutors sometimes add a charge for interfering with the alleged victim’s ability to call for help, which can relate directly to confinement allegations about controlling someone’s movement or access to a phone.
• Pointing a Firearm: When a weapon is alleged to have been used during a confinement incident, the charge can elevate to a Level 3 felony, and gun-related charges may be filed separately.
• Intimidation: Threats made to keep someone from leaving, or to prevent them from calling law enforcement, often produce intimidation charges that travel alongside the confinement count.

Why Rigney Law LLC Handles Criminal Confinement Defense

The attorneys at Rigney Law LLC, Jacob Rigney and Kassi Rigney, have spent years handling criminal defense cases in Indianapolis and throughout Indiana. The firm was built on the premise that good criminal defense requires real courtroom experience, not just familiarity with statutes. That means going into court day after day, understanding how specific judges approach cases, knowing how Marion County prosecutors evaluate evidence, and being willing to do the preparation work that actually moves the needle for clients.

Criminal confinement cases demand exactly that kind of hands-on knowledge. The difference between a Level 6 and a Level 3 felony is not just a technicality; it is years of prison time. Knowing when to push for dismissal, when to negotiate, and when to take a case to trial requires the kind of practical experience that Rigney Law LLC has built over years of criminal defense work in Indiana. The firm’s philosophy is direct: put in the work behind the scenes so that when it counts in court, clients are in the best position possible.

If you need a criminal confinement attorney in Indianapolis, what matters is whether your lawyer understands the charge deeply, knows the courts where your case will be heard, and will actually commit to your defense. That is what Rigney Law LLC does.

If You Have Been Charged or Arrested: What to Do Now

The hours and days after an arrest for criminal confinement are critical. Law enforcement and prosecutors begin building their case immediately, and anything you say, whether to officers, to the alleged victim, or to anyone else, can be used against you. The first and most important step is to stop talking to investigators without an attorney present. This is not a sign of guilt. It is the basic exercise of your constitutional rights, and it protects your ability to mount an effective defense.

Criminal confinement cases in Indianapolis are heard in Marion Superior Court, located in the City-County Building at 200 E. Washington Street in downtown Indianapolis. The specific division handling your case depends on how and where the charges were filed. If your case originates from a domestic incident, it may be assigned to a specialized domestic division. Understanding which courtroom and which judge will handle your matter matters for how your case proceeds, and your attorney should know that landscape well.

Bond conditions in confinement cases often include no-contact orders with the alleged victim. Violating those conditions, even indirectly, creates new criminal exposure and damages your position in the underlying case. Follow all bond conditions exactly as written. If they create practical problems, your attorney can file a motion to modify them.

Gather and preserve any evidence that supports your account of events. Text messages, emails, social media communications, voicemails, security camera footage from your home or nearby businesses, and records of any prior interactions between you and the alleged victim can all be relevant. Evidence disappears. Witnesses’ memories fade. The sooner you document what you have, the better.

If this is your first felony charge, you may have questions about how a conviction would affect employment, housing, professional licensing, or firearms rights. Those are legitimate concerns, and your attorney should discuss them with you alongside the criminal defense strategy itself. In some cases, alternatives to conviction, including diversion programs or negotiated dismissals, may be available. Whether those are realistic options in your case depends on the specific facts and on the charging decisions already made.

Questions People Ask About Criminal Confinement Charges in Indiana

What is the difference between criminal confinement and kidnapping in Indiana?

Both offenses involve restricting another person’s movement, but kidnapping under Indiana law typically involves additional elements such as using the victim as a hostage, holding them for ransom, or using the confinement to commit another serious crime. Kidnapping is generally charged at a higher felony level than criminal confinement. Prosecutors sometimes charge both and allow the facts and negotiations to determine which charge, if either, ultimately proceeds.

Can criminal confinement be charged even if no one was physically restrained?

Yes. Indiana’s confinement statute covers situations involving fraud, enticement, force, or threat, not just physical restraint. If someone was prevented from leaving through the use of threats, intimidation, or deception, that can satisfy the elements of the offense. Physical restraint is the most obvious scenario, but it is not the only one prosecutors pursue.

What are the possible penalties for a criminal confinement conviction in Indiana?

The penalty depends on the felony level of the charge. A Level 6 felony carries a potential sentence of six months to two and a half years in prison. A Level 5 felony carries a range of one to six years. Higher-level felony charges, which apply when aggravating factors like a weapon or serious bodily injury are present, carry significantly longer potential sentences. Advisory sentences and actual time served also depend on criminal history and judicial discretion at sentencing.

Does a criminal confinement conviction affect my gun rights?

A felony conviction in Indiana results in the loss of the right to possess firearms under both state and federal law. Because even a Level 6 criminal confinement conviction is a felony, a guilty finding or plea would trigger that consequence. Anyone with an Indiana handgun license should also understand that a felony conviction results in revocation of that license.

What happens if the alleged victim does not want to press charges?

In Indiana, as in most states, charging decisions belong to the prosecutor, not to the alleged victim. A victim who recants or refuses to cooperate does not automatically end the case. Prosecutors may proceed using other evidence, prior statements made to law enforcement, physical evidence, or witness testimony. That said, a victim’s cooperation or lack thereof does affect the strength of the prosecution’s case, and your attorney can advise on how that plays out in practice.

Can a criminal confinement charge be expunged from my record in Indiana?

Indiana has an expungement statute that allows certain convictions to be sealed from public view after a waiting period. Whether a criminal confinement conviction qualifies for expungement depends on the felony level of the conviction and whether you meet the eligibility requirements under current Indiana law. Felony expungements generally require a longer waiting period and have additional requirements compared to misdemeanor expungements. Rigney Law LLC handles expungement matters and can assess eligibility for clients whose cases have concluded.

I was charged with criminal confinement during a domestic dispute. Will this affect a custody case?

Yes, a criminal confinement charge, and especially a conviction, can have significant implications in a parallel family law proceeding. Indiana courts consider evidence of domestic violence and criminal conduct when making parenting time and custody decisions. A pending felony charge can affect your position in a custody matter even before any conviction. It is important to understand how the criminal case and any civil family law case interact, and your attorney should be aware of both.

What if I was trying to stop the other person from leaving during an argument, not to harm them?

Intent matters in criminal confinement cases, but the statute does not require that the defendant intended to harm the alleged victim. The question is whether the defendant knowingly or intentionally confined the other person without consent. That said, the circumstances surrounding the incident, the nature of the relationship, the duration of any restriction, and what was said and done all feed into how a jury or judge would evaluate the evidence. These are exactly the kinds of factual nuances that a defense attorney develops into a coherent theory of the case.

How long will my case take to resolve in Marion County?

Case timelines in Marion Superior Court vary widely. A case that resolves through a plea agreement may move faster than one headed for trial. Pretrial discovery, motion practice, scheduling, and court docket backlogs all affect the timeline. Felony cases in Marion County can take anywhere from several months to well over a year to resolve, depending on complexity and what course of action makes sense for the client. Your attorney can give you a more specific estimate once they have reviewed your case and the status of the docket.

Is there a defense based on the alleged victim consenting to what happened?

Consent is a recognized defense to criminal confinement under Indiana law. If the alleged victim voluntarily agreed to the conduct in question, that goes to the heart of the charge. However, proving consent, or raising a reasonable doubt about whether it was absent, requires presenting evidence and often confronting credibility questions that a jury must weigh. This defense is case-specific and depends entirely on what the evidence shows. It is not a defense that can be built on assertion alone.

Representing Criminal Confinement Clients Across Indianapolis and Central Indiana

Rigney Law LLC represents clients facing criminal confinement charges throughout Indianapolis and the surrounding region. In Marion County, the firm handles cases arising from neighborhoods and communities across the city, including the Near Northside, Broad Ripple, Irvington, Fountain Square, Lawrence, Beech Grove, Speedway, Warren Township, Pike Township, and the downtown core. Beyond Marion County, the firm extends its criminal defense representation to clients in Hamilton County, including Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, and Westfield. Clients from Hancock County, including Greenfield and surrounding communities, as well as those from Hendricks County, including Danville and Plainfield, also turn to Rigney Law LLC for felony defense. The firm additionally serves clients in Johnson County, covering Greenwood and Franklin, and reaches into Boone County and Morgan County when criminal matters arise in those jurisdictions. If your case originated from an incident anywhere in central Indiana and your case will be heard in a local court, Rigney Law LLC is positioned to represent you throughout the process.

Talk to an Indianapolis Criminal Confinement Attorney Today

A felony confinement charge moves through the courts whether or not you are prepared for it. The earlier you retain an Indianapolis criminal confinement attorney, the more options remain available for your defense. Rigney Law LLC offers free consultations so you can understand your situation clearly before making any decisions. Jacob Rigney and Kassi Rigney handle these cases directly, and they will give you an honest assessment of where things stand and what the path forward looks like. Call the office to schedule your free consultation and get started on your defense.