Wyoming Statutes

Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-201 (2026)

Kidnapping; penalties; effect of release of

✓ current as of May 2026

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victim.

     (a) A person is guilty of kidnapping if he unlawfully
removes another from his place of residence or business or from
the vicinity where he was at the time of the removal, or if he
unlawfully confines another person, with the intent to:

           (i)    Hold for ransom or reward, or as a shield or
hostage;

           (ii)    Facilitate the commission of a felony; or

          (iii) Inflict bodily injury on or to terrorize the
victim or another.

     (b) A removal or confinement is unlawful if it is
accomplished:

           (i)    By force, threat or deception; or

          (ii) Without the consent of a parent, guardian or
other person responsible for the general supervision of an
individual who is under the age of fourteen (14) or who is
adjudicated incompetent.

     (c) If the defendant voluntarily releases the victim
substantially unharmed and in a safe place prior to trial,
kidnapping is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more
than twenty (20) years.

     (d) If the defendant does not voluntarily release the
victim substantially unharmed and in a safe place prior to
trial, kidnapping is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not
less than twenty (20) years or for life except as provided in
W.S. 6-2-101.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 67 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1985–2025 · leading case: Winters v. State, 446 P.3d 191 (Wyo. 2019).

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Winters v. State, 446 P.3d 191 (Wyo. 2019). · cites it 18× “Winters with aggravated kidnapping under Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-201 (a)(ii), (b)(ii), and (d) (LexisNexis 2017) (Count 1), sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree under Wyo.”

Alcalde v. State, 2003 WY 99 (Wyo. 2003). · cites it 31× “[¶ 1] Diego Olmos Alcalde (Alcalde) appeals his conviction for kidnapping in violation of Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 6-2-201 (a)(iii), (b)(i) and (c).”

Rathbun v. State, 2011 WY 116 (Wyo. 2011). · cites it 13× “Finally, the crime of kidnapping is defined in Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-201 (LexisNexis 2011): (a) A person is guilty of kidnapping if he unlawfully removes another from his place of residence or business or from the vicinity where he was at the time of the removal, or if he…”

Steven W. Vaught v. State, 2016 WY 7 (Wyo. 2016). · cites it 7× “§ 6-2-302 (a)(ii) and one count of kidnapping under Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-201 (a)(iii), (d) 1 We affirm.”

Christopher David Harrell v. The State of Wyoming, 2022 WY 76 (Wyo. 2022). · cites it 14× “He submits that his kidnapping conviction merged with his sexual assault conviction because the sexual assault was the substantial harm element of the kidnapping conviction.”

Moore v. State, 2003 WY 153 (Wyo. 2003). · cites it 6× “Moore's contention is that the evidence was insufficient to support a finding that he unlawfully confined the victims within the meaning of Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-201 (LexisNexis 2003).”

Counts v. State, 2012 WY 70 (Wyo. 2012). · cites it 8× “$ 6-3-801(c)(i); and kidnapping in violation of Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-201 (a)(iii). Based on prior felony convictions, Mr.”

Gregory Michael Hawes, 2014 WY 127 (Wyo. 2014). · cites it 6× “§ 6-2-506 (b) and (e)) (LexisNexis 2013), and kidnapping in violation of Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-201 (a)(ii), (a)(ii), and (d) (LexisNexis 2018).”

Travis Bogard v. The State of Wyoming, 2019 WY 96 (Wyo. 2019). · cites it 3× “The relevant portion of the kidnapping statute provides: “(a) A person is guilty of kidnapping if he unlawfully removes another from his place of residence or business or from the vicinity where he was at the time of the removal, or if he unlawfully confines another person, with…”

Chad Dockter v. State, 2017 WY 63 (Wyo. 2017). · cites it 9× “Was the evidence sufficient to establish that Appellant unlawfully confined the victim as required by the kidnapping statute, Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-201 (a) (LexisNexis 2015)? 2.”

McDermott v. State, 870 P.2d 339 (Wyo. 1994). · cites it 12× “§ 6-2-201 (1988), which are, according to the instruction by the court: The necessary elements of the crime of aggravated kidnapping are: 1.”

Loomer v. State, 768 P.2d 1042 (Wyo. 1989). · cites it 6× “The kidnapping statute, W.S. 6-2-201, provides in pertinent part: “(a) A person is guilty of kidnapping if he unlawfully removes another from his place of residence or business or from the vicinity where he was at the time of the removal, or if he unlawfully confines another…”

Show all 67 citing cases →

— Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-201(a) — 3 cases

Gomez v. State, 2004 WY 15 (Wyo. 2004).

Doud v. State, 845 P.2d 402 (Wyo. 1993).

Eustice v. State, 871 P.2d 682 (Wyo. 1994).

— Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-201(a)(i) — 2 cases

Major v. State, 2003 WY 4 (Wyo. 2004).

Darrow v. State, 824 P.2d 1269 (Wyo. 1992).

— Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-201(a)(ii) — 8 cases

Winters v. State, 446 P.3d 191 (Wyo. 2019). “Winters with aggravated kidnapping under Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-201 (a)(ii), (b)(ii), and (d) (LexisNexis 2017) (Count 1), sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree under Wyo.”

Travis Bogard v. The State of Wyoming, 2019 WY 96 (Wyo. 2019). “The relevant portion of the kidnapping statute provides: “(a) A person is guilty of kidnapping if he unlawfully removes another from his place of residence or business or from the vicinity where he was at the time of the removal, or if he unlawfully confines another person, with…”

Lacey v. State, 803 P.2d 1364 (Wyo. 1990).

Duffy v. State, 789 P.2d 821 (Wyo. 1990).

Amin v. State, 694 P.2d 119 (Wyo. 1985).

— Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-201(a)(iii) — 1 case

Alcalde v. State, 2003 WY 99 (Wyo. 2003). “[¶ 1] Diego Olmos Alcalde (Alcalde) appeals his conviction for kidnapping in violation of Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 6-2-201 (a)(iii), (b)(i) and (c).”

— Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-201(a)(iii)(d) — 2 cases

Kolb v. State, 930 P.2d 1238 (Wyo. 1996).

Sadler v. State, 375 P.3d 728 (Wyo. 2016).

— Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-201(b)(ii) — 1 case

— Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-201(c) — 3 cases

McDermott v. State, 870 P.2d 339 (Wyo. 1994). “§ 6-2-201 (1988), which are, according to the instruction by the court: The necessary elements of the crime of aggravated kidnapping are: 1.”

Rathbun v. State, 2011 WY 116 (Wyo. 2011). “Finally, the crime of kidnapping is defined in Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-201 (LexisNexis 2011): (a) A person is guilty of kidnapping if he unlawfully removes another from his place of residence or business or from the vicinity where he was at the time of the removal, or if he…”

Doud v. State, 845 P.2d 402 (Wyo. 1993).

— Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-201(d) — 3 cases

McDermott v. State, 870 P.2d 339 (Wyo. 1994). “§ 6-2-201 (1988), which are, according to the instruction by the court: The necessary elements of the crime of aggravated kidnapping are: 1.”

Lacey v. State, 803 P.2d 1364 (Wyo. 1990).

Doud v. State, 845 P.2d 402 (Wyo. 1993).

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