False imprisonment occurs when you unlawfully deprive another person of his or her personal liberty. Five, eight, or twelve years in a California state prison.Under this statute, false imprisonment is a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on whether you used force, violence, or menace to falsely imprison the victim. Charged with false imprisonment? You need aggressive defense. If you were charged with a crime, you can file a motion to exclude evidence obtained from the false arrest. If you have been charged with false imprisonment, Chesley Lawyers identify defense strategies, and aggressively protect your rights in court if necessary. Under California Penal Code Section 236, false imprisonment occurs when a person is detained, restrained, or confined without consent. A plaintiff trying to demand state accountability for a false arrest needs proof that the arrest led to actual injury or damages. The language of the code section states that: 210.5.