False Imprisonment
Legal Definition
A person commits false imprisonment by intentionally confining or restraining another person without their consent and without lawful authority. The offense involves knowingly restricting someone's freedom of movement by force, threat, or deception. False imprisonment is classified as a fourth degree felony, punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000.
Possible Punishment
False imprisonment is a fourth degree felony punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000.
Local Context
This offense is distinct from kidnapping, which involves additional elements such as taking the victim from one place to another or holding them for ransom, to inflict injury, or to facilitate commission of a felony. False imprisonment may be elevated to kidnapping under § 30-4-1 NMSA if aggravating circumstances are present. The key distinction lies in the scope and purpose of the confinement.
Violent-Crime Cases in Doña Ana County
Violent charges are where New Mexico's pretrial system shows its teeth. For serious felony cases (aggravated battery, armed robbery, homicide), the District Attorney frequently files a pretrial detention motion asking the Third Judicial District Court to hold the defendant with no possibility of release. That is why some people in our booking feed are released within a day while others charged under the same statute stay in custody until trial.
Many bookings in this category involve household members, which triggers additional consequences: no-contact release conditions, orders of protection, and, after a qualifying conviction, a federal firearm prohibition. Charges listed at booking are the arresting officer's charges; the DA decides what is actually filed, and amendments are common in violent-crime cases as evidence develops.
Related Guides
Domestic Violence Charges in New Mexico: Household Members, No-Contact Orders, and Why Victims Can't Drop Charges
How battery against a household member works in New Mexico: misdemeanor vs. felony versions, no-contact release conditions, protection orders, and firearm consequences.
Bail in New Mexico: Why There Is (Mostly) No Cash Bail Anymore
New Mexico voters ended most cash bail in 2016. How pretrial release, bond conditions, and no-bail detention actually work in Doña Ana County courts.
Misdemeanor vs. Felony in New Mexico: Sentences, Courts, and Consequences
How New Mexico separates petty misdemeanors, misdemeanors, and felony degrees: sentence ranges, jail vs. prison, habitual enhancements, and collateral costs.
Recent Arrests for This Charge (30)
La Mesa Man, 65, Booked on Aggravated Assault and False Imprisonment Charges
ANTHONY WALLACE | 2 charges
Las Cruces Woman, 24, Booked on Kidnapping and Child Abuse Charges
ANISSA VIGIL | 15 charges
Las Cruces Man, 48, Booked on Charges of False Imprisonment and Battery
EDWARD TOME | 2 charges
Las Cruces Man, 38, Booked on Residential Burglary and Felony Battery Charges
CONNARD BOWLING | 9 charges
Las Cruces Man, 36, Booked on Aggravated Battery and False Imprisonment Charges
JAVIER GUZMAN-DE LA O | 3 charges
Las Cruces Man, 21, Booked on Felony False Imprisonment and Battery Charges
AAREN ORTIZ-ULIBARRI | 6 charges
Las Cruces Man, 43, Booked on Aggravated Assault and Battery Charges
JESSIE PENA | 4 charges
Hatch Man, 34, Booked on Felony False Imprisonment Charge
SERGIO PANTOYA | 2 charges
Anthony Man, 52, Booked on Felony Battery and False Imprisonment Charges
NOE GARCIA | 5 charges
Richard Martinez, 24, Booked on Felony False Imprisonment and Battery Charges
RICHARD MARTINEZ | 4 charges
Santa Teresa Man, 47, Booked on Child Abuse and False Imprisonment Charges
MARCO GOMEZ | 3 charges
Santa Teresa Man, 23, Booked on Felony False Imprisonment and Battery Charges
ANGEL GOMEZ | 2 charges
Las Cruces Man, 37, Booked on Household Assault and Failure to Appear Charges
JESSE QUEVEDO | 12 charges
Las Cruces Man, 51, Booked on Charges of False Imprisonment and Battery
BILLY BENAVIDEZ | 3 charges
Mesquite Man, 44, Faces Felony Burglary and Domestic Battery Charges
IVAN SANTILLAN | 6 charges
Las Cruces Man, 34, Booked on Multiple Counts of Aggravated Battery
NICHOLAS HERRERA | 6 charges
Las Cruces Man, 35, Charged with Battery Against a Household Member
ARTURO PADILLA | 7 charges
Anthony Man, 19, Booked on Felony Charges Including False Imprisonment
JOSE PINON | 8 charges
Las Cruces Woman, 33, Charged with Battery Against a Household Member
SARAH YOUNG | 2 charges
Anthony Man, 18, Charged with Battery Against a Household Member
CHRISTIAN LINDSEY | 2 charges
Las Cruces Man, 33, Charged with Court Commitment
DOMINIC DENNISON | 5 charges
Las Cruces Man, 25, Charged with False Imprisonment
SANTANA QUEZADA | 2 charges
El Paso Man, 19, Booked on Felony Child Abuse and Battery Charges
BRIAN PENA TREVINO | 9 charges
La Mesa Man, 32, Booked on Nine Felony Counts Including Child Abuse and Assault
MIGUEL MEDELLIN | 9 charges
Las Cruces Man, 33, Faces Felony False Imprisonment and Aggravated Battery Counts
DAN CARRILLO | 3 charges
Las Cruces Man, 47, Booked on Felony Battery and False Imprisonment Charges
DAVID RAMIREZ | 3 charges
Las Cruces Man, 42, Booked on Criminal Sexual Penetration and Battery Charges
BRIAN SMOLAK | 4 charges
Radium Springs Man, 35, Faces Felony Domestic Violence and Weapon Charges
JOSHUA CHAVARRIA | 6 charges
Las Cruces Man, 52, Booked on Aggravated Battery, False Imprisonment Charges
JIMMIE HAYNES | 5 charges
Las Cruces Man, 34, Booked on Kidnapping and Aggravated Battery Charges
ALEXANDER MADRID | 35 charges
Information provided for general reference. Statutory text is summarized and may not reflect the most recent amendments. All persons listed are presumed innocent until proven guilty.