The law generally requires that the guilty plea be vacated in order to bring forth state and federal challenges to the validity of an arrest:. Unlawful Imprisonment in the First Degree is a New York criminal offense imposing harsh penalties on anyone who restrains another person.Thus, while the plaintiff was unquestionably falsely imprisoned, he did not thereafter suffer any "unjustifiable litigation" (Broughton v. Plaintiff Thomas Ferris moves for an order, pursuant to CPLR 3212, granting partial summary judgment on his claim of false imprisonment as against defendants. False imprisonment occurs when a person intentionally and illegally restrains another person's ability to move freely. False imprisonment is the illegal restraint of a person. False imprisonment is the illegal restraint of a person. 3 Illegal or unlawful implies deliberateness in the defendant's actions. Lawfalse imprisonment and malicious prosecution. False imprisonment is an act punishable under criminal law as well as under tort law.