Manatee County, FL (January 22, 2019) – Police reported that a 2-year-old child was rescued by a Florida State Trooper on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge after she was abducted from her house on January 20 in Pasco County.
Florida Highway Patrol began searching for the two-year-old girl who was taken from her home at around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday. The troopers who were investigating the kidnapping were able to you the suspect's cell phone to locate the man and child. The suspect's cell phone pings indicated that the suspect was headed towards the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. A trooper waited for backup to arrive when he spotted the suspect driving south on Interstate 275 before attempting to stop the vehicle. Once the Manatee County Sheriff's Deputies were able to assist FHP, the suspect was pulled over and detained.
The suspect, 36-year-old Jean Emmanuel-Jean Gilles was detained without incident. Police found the 2-year-old child in the back seat, unrestrained. Police discovered that Gilles had been given permission to see the child earlier in the day but showed up way later than the arranged time and was told that he would not be able to have the scheduled visit that day. The suspect then battered the child’s mother and took the child without permission. Gilles took the mother's cell phone when he fled with the toddler in an effort to stop her from contacting authorities.
The child was returned to her mother in Pasco County following the incident.
Gilles was arrested for the kidnapping of a child under 13 with aggravating circumstances, confinement of the child, and interference with custody.
At this time, he is being held at the Manatee County Jail.
Manatee County Kidnapping Laws
If you have been accused of kidnapping, it is imperative that you retain the legal services of a skilled professional who is able to work diligently in an effort to protect your rights and freedoms during this difficult time. Kidnapping is considered to be a violent crime due to the fact that a person is abducted or confined by force against their will. Especially in cases involving children, prosecutors will attempt to build a case against you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. This means that you could be facing the frightening reality of prison time, outstanding fines, an impact on your child custody, and many other penalties.
A Florida kidnapping crime is seen as particularly violent and dangerous, which means that you could be facing penalties that could affect every aspect of your life for years to come. If you have been accused and charged with the crime of kidnapping it is imperative that you have the representation of a skilled violent crimes attorney to help you maneuver through the complex and complicated Florida legal system. With over 150 years of combined criminal defense attorney experience successfully representing our clients and we have the ability and resources necessary to ensure that you get the best possible outcome for the charges you are facing. Contact the lawyers at Musca Law to have all of your questions answered about the charges against you. Contact us for more information on how we can help you at (888) 484-5057.