Though a serious felony, an unlawful imprisonment charge does not mean the offender possessed malice in detaining the victim. A person can be charged with unlawful imprisonment if they use threats of violence or deceive the other party in some way.The prosecution and courts may seek harsher penalties if the case involves violence, fraud, deceit and additional violations of the law. . A person restrains someone after suspecting they want to commit a domestic violence crime. Domestic abuse is a more comprehensive term that includes physical violence and emotional and psychological abuse that can occur within a relationship. Again, a person can act with violence out of compulsion from a more prominent or more significant person. Custodial interference; child born out of wedlock; defenses; classification. 13-1303; Unlawful imprisonment; classification; definition. False imprisonment: Unlawfully restraining someone against their will through confinement, such as locking them in a room or trunk of a car. Unlawful imprisonment.