Section 39-13-305 - Especially aggravated kidnapping(a) Especially aggravated kidnapping is false imprisonment, as defined in § 39-13-302: (1) Accomplished with a deadly weapon or by display of any article used or fashioned to lead the victim to reasonably believe it to be a deadly weapon;(2) Where the victim was under the age of thirteen (13) at the time of the removal or confinement;(3) Committed to hold the victim for ransom or reward, or as a shield or hostage; or(4) Where the victim suffers serious bodily injury.(b)(1) Especially aggravated kidnapping is a Class A felony.(2) If the offender voluntarily releases the victim alive or voluntarily provides information leading to the victim's safe release, such actions shall be considered by the court as a mitigating factor at the time of sentencing.(3) Notwithstanding title 40, chapter 35, a person convicted of a violation of this section shall be punished as a Range II offender; however, the sentence imposed upon such person may, if appropriate, be within Range III but in no case shall it be lower than Range II.Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 155, s 1, eff. 7/1/2023.