Individuals cannot press charges, only a prosecutor vested with the authority of the state may file charges. This is an extremely common misconception largely generated from popular media. Individuals can report a crime to the police, cooperate with prosecutors, and sue privately.

https://www.thsh.com/criminal-justice-insider/as-seen-on-tv-...

>It'll be enough to matter to him. Future wages can be garnished.

civil judgements can be discharged via bankruptcy.

>I don't want a job where I'm required to be a milquetoast.

Isn't that the problem? There will always be someone who is willing to be a milquetoast, hence why institutions are caving to the slightest pressure from twitter mobs.

Bankruptcy isn't a joke, either.

Besides, my goal is not to destroy the person. It's to make it costly for him to commit crimes against me.

>It's to make it costly for him to commit crimes against me.

That only works if he doesn't think the cost is worth it. If you've already gone through the trouble of planning/executing this, I doubt one of the hostages telling you about the potential financial consequences is going to make you change your mind.

> I don't want a job [...]

Is what your last sentence essentially says. Every organisation you might work for will care about how things look and how what you do reflects on it.

No job can require me to submit to being assaulted.

Nobody was talking about assault.

Holding people prisoner is assault. Battery happens when you actually hit people.