If convicted of this offense, a defendant faces three, five, or eight years in county jail. Misdemeanor false imprisonment occurs if the offense does not involve violence, fraud, deceit, or menace.The offense carries a jail sentence of up to one year. California law makes it illegal to restrain, detain or confine someone without their consent. Doing so is the crime of "false imprisonment." Find an attorney immediately from a different county than the one you were arrested. Make sure they specialize in police misconduct OR have a lot of guts. If you have been charged with false imprisonment, Chesley Lawyers identify defense strategies, and aggressively protect your rights in court if necessary. California Penal Code § 236 PC defines false imprisonment as unlawfully restraining, detaining, or confining a person against his or her will. In a false imprisonment case where a gun was used, then an additional ten years can be added to the sentence.