Woman faces charge of kidnapping boy, 6

A woman who prosecutors say attempted to interrogate a 6-year-old boy because he allegedly touched her son, is in big trouble with law enforcers.

Deborah Olsen was charged Friday in 3rd District Court with first-degree felony child kidnapping.

Olsen picked up a 6-year-old boy from his house on Aug. 5. The boy's mother allowed her son to go with Olsen, believing she was taking him to her house for a play date with her son, according to court documents.

Instead, Olsen drove the boy to the parking lot at the state Capitol and proceeded to interrogate the young boy, getting a videotaped "confession" that he touched her son, the charges state.

It was unclear to what extent the other boy was touched or whether he was harmed at all.

Salt Lake police later confiscated the videotape. On it, the boy is "crying, very upset, and terrified and begging to go home," according to court documents. "Olsen can also be heard telling (the boy that he) will not get to go home unless (he) tells Olsen what Olsen wants to hear."

Even if Olsen thought she was doing something to rectify a situation or take the law into her own hands, prosecutor Alicia Cook said what she did was absolutely wrong.

"I'm not sure if people are aware how clear and strict the child kidnapping law is," she said. "If you've got a child who is under the age of 14, you are not allowed to seize them or transport them without the consent of a person in a guardian position. You cannot touch someone's kid."

Cook was not sure what Olsen had intended to do with the tape.

If convicted, Olsen is facing between 6 years to potentially life in prison.

e-mail: preavy@desnews.com