Last Updated on September 19, 2024
The villain of The Labyrinth, played by David Bowie, is one of the most charming bad guys in any fantasy film, even though he kidnaps a baby in a strange attempt to seduce a 15-year-old. But while being charismatic is a great thing, it’s not enough to change the fact that Jareth committed some pretty serious crimes. Here’s what the Goblin King could be charged with if he were arrested for his crimes, courtesy of criminal defense lawyer Peter M. Liss.
Jareth the Kidnapping Goblin King
The most obvious and most difficult-to-defend crime Jareth committed would be kidnapping baby Toby. While he defends his actions in the film by claiming that he only did what Sarah wanted, you can’t suddenly abduct a child simply because its sibling asks you to —not to mention, we’re pretty sure he really just wanted to turn the baby into another member of his goblin horde.
Under California law, kidnapping charges can only apply when the victim was taken:
- a substantial distance
- against their will
- through the use of force or fear —or fraud in the case of a child under 14
Transporting the child to another realm would undoubtedly qualify as a substantial distance, and since the baby was too young to consent and his parents did not agree to Jareth’s actions, that would meet the second requirement. Finally, the Goblin King certainly used force to abduct the child —even if it was only the minimal force required to carry a baby out of its own room. Additionally, because the victim was so young, it would almost certainly be charged as aggravated kidnapping. And because he took the baby not just out of the state, but out of our world entirely, it would also become a federal crime.
He Doesn’t Kidnap Sarah Though
The Goblin King claims he stole Sarah’s brother because he is willing to do anything she wants, but he won’t return the boy. Instead, he tells her that she will have to solve his labyrinth if she wants him back. If Sarah was just one year younger, this could make Jareth guilty of kidnapping, as he is using fraud to get her to follow him into his realm despite her not wanting to do so. But California only considers the use of fraud a valid way to kidnap someone 14 or under, so this charge wouldn’t apply.
Jareth’s Creepy Moves With a 15-Year-Old
However, it could be possible for prosecutors to charge the Goblin King with soliciting a minor for sex, although this would be a difficult case to prove. This law is primarily used to convict people who use the internet to set up meetings with minors they hope to build a sexual relationship with. Still, given that Jareth was using the baby as a lure to get Sarah to enter his world, where he hoped to seduce her, it is possible it could be used against him.
Unlike most other sex crimes involving children, soliciting a minor for sex does not require the victim and defendant to ever touch. Instead, it requires the suspect to arrange to meet with a minor “motivated by an unnatural or abnormal sexual interest in children” for the purpose of “exposing your genitals or rectal area, having the child expose his or her genitals or rectal area, or engaging in lewd or lascivious behavior.”
It’s fairly obvious that Jareth has an unnatural sexual interest in Sarah, which is why he kidnapped her brother and then forced her to solve a nearly impossible labyrinth solely to get the child back. Along the way, the Goblin King gives the girl a magical poisoned peach that shows her visions of the two of them dancing in a beautiful fantasy setting while he serenades her with his song —not something someone would typically do unless they were trying to seduce another person.
Trying to prove that Jareth was acting to either see Sarah’s genitals, have her see his genitals, or engage in lewd or lascivious behavior would be a lot harder to prove, and he would most likely be acquitted of these charges. Even with cringeworthy lines like, “Just fear me, love me, do as I say… And I will be your slave,” there is no evidence that the Goblin King intended to perform any inappropriate sexual acts with Sarah in the near future. It’s possible that he was hoping to make her his bride at some point (he could even legally marry her in California if he convinced a parent and judge to consent to the wedding). While it’s absolutely creepy, he may have even been willing to wait until she turned 18 or at least the legal age limit for marriage in his kingdom.
So Would he Be Convicted?
With his charismatic personality there to charm the jurors and the judge, it is doubtful he would be convicted for soliciting sex with a minor. Still, he would have a hard time fighting kidnapping charges. His best chance to beat the allegations would be to refuse to speak to the police without a defense attorney present, but from what we’ve seen of Jareth, silence doesn’t seem to be his strong suit, especially when he has an opportunity to brag.
Remember that even the Goblin King’s words can be used against him if he doesn’t invoke his 5th Amendment Rights, and the same is true about anyone else accused of a crime. If you ever find yourself in need of a criminal attorney, please call (760) 643-4050 or (858) 486-3024 to schedule a free initial consultation with Peter M. Liss.
Related articles: If you like stories about villains who kidnap children, consider reading about the legal consequences that Count Olaf could face. Alternatively, if you like fantastic stories of people with supernatural powers, don’t miss this piece on the legal consequences Wanda could face after her adventures in Wandavision.
