Legal Definitions - manstealing

Definition: Manstealing is another term for kidnapping. It refers to the act of forcibly taking someone away by force or fraud.

At common law, manstealing was the crime of abducting a person from their own country and sending them to another. This offense was considered false imprisonment aggravated by moving the victim to another country. However, under modern statutes, the asportation (the act of carrying away) need not be this extensive.

Examples of kidnapping include:

• Aggravated kidnapping: Kidnapping accompanied by some aggravating factor, such as a demand for ransom or injury of the victim.
• Child-kidnapping: The kidnapping of a minor, often without the element of force or fraud.
• Kidnapping for ransom: The offense of unlawfully seizing a person and then confining them, usually in a secret place, while attempting to extort ransom.
• Parental kidnapping: The kidnapping of a child by one parent in violation of the other parent's custody or visitation rights.
• Simple kidnapping: Kidnapping not accompanied by an aggravating factor.

For example, if someone kidnaps a child and demands a ransom from their parents, it would be considered kidnapping for ransom. If a parent takes their child away from the other parent without permission, it would be considered parental kidnapping.

Overall, manstealing or kidnapping is a serious crime that involves taking someone away against their will. It can have severe consequences for both the victim and the perpetrator.