Are you or someone you care about facing harassment or stalking criminal charges? If so, it is important to seek the advice and counsel of an experienced criminal defense attorney at The Law Offices of John Schmidt & Associates, PLLC. These criminal charges can be much more serious than you might think, they can also result in significant long-term issues that threaten not only your personal liberty, but employment and many other aspects of life going forward.
Those who are convicted of harassment or stalking criminal charges face a jail sentence and stiff fines as well as probation and a permanent criminal record. These types of criminal charges and the resulting criminal record can have an impact on many issues from applying to a job to obtaining housing as well as the ability to buy a car or get a loan.
Harassment is a charge which is based in aggressive actions taken toward another which are considered threatening, or an effort to intimidate. The prosecution caries a heavy burden not only to prove these charges meet every issue specified in Kentucky law but to convince a jury based on the standard of “beyond a reasonable doubt. Actions which can result in criminal harassment charges include but are not limited to:
- A threat, attempt or actual action to shove, kick, punch, slap or otherwise perpetrate a physical attack.
- Making offensive or abusive statements, gestures or other displays of threatening verbal threats toward anyone in public
- Specific actions in a school setting including damage or theft of property, disruptive behavior or the creation of a “hostile environment”
- Simply repeatedly following another person’s movements in public space(s)
- Unwelcome communications or gestures which are coarse or lewd
Stalking is a separate charge from harassment but they often go hand-in-hand. Stalking in Kentucky is considered to be an intentional series of actions or obsessive behaviors which make another feel intimidated or annoyed. Stalking usually involves continuous monitoring or following of another, substantial unwanted electronic or verbal communications, loitering or damage to the alleged victim’s personal property.
It is important to note there are specific intentions and other standards which must be proven as part of the prosecution’s case.
Harassment and stalking criminal charges are much more serious than many might otherwise believe. They can result in jail time, heavy fines and the creation of a criminal record of behavior which can make it more difficult to get a job or simply live life in the future. This is why it is important to seek the defense you deserve from an experienced, proven attorney at the Law Offices of John Schmidt & Associates PLLC.
We invite you to contact us via e-mail, schedule an appointment or call us today at (502) 509-1490 to get the answers you need and relief from financial challenges and creditors.
