Franklin Harassment Lawyer
Criminal and Restraining Order Defense Attorneys in Sussex and Warren County, New Jersey
Harassment
If you are charged with harassment in Sussex or Warren County, an experienced criminal defense attorney at the Tormey Law Firm who has handled harassment cases before will enable you to develop a comprehensive and effective defense strategy to avoid the potential consequences of being found guilty of harassment. Not only do our highly knowledgeable lawyers defend clients facing harassment charges in towns such as Sparta, Vernon, Phillipsburg, and Hackettstown, but we also defend clients facing restraining orders in connection with these charges. Contact our offices today at 973-755-1695 to discuss your case and find the answers to your questions. One of our highly experienced defense lawyers is always available to provide you with a cost-free consultation.
Harassment Defense Lawyer in Wantage NJ
Under the New Jersey Criminal Code, N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4, there are three potential types of actions that can constitute harassment in circumstances where the actor intends to harass the victim: communication, physical contact, or a course of conduct. First, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4(a), a person commits harassment if with purpose to harass another he makes or causes to be made, a communication or communications anonymously or at extremely inconvenient hours, or in offensively coarse language, or any other manner likely to cause annoyance or alarm. Next, according to N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4(b), a person commits harassment if with purpose to harass another he subjects another to striking, kicking, shoving, or other offensive touching, or threatens to do so. Finally, under N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4(c), a person commits harassment if with purpose to harass another he engages in any other course of alarming conduct or of repeatedly committed acts with purpose to alarm or seriously annoy such other person.
Generally, the term “harass” is given its ordinary meaning: to annoy, torment, wear out, or exhaust. And, as the statutory language makes clear, the actor’s intent is important to determine whether or not an action can be considered harassment because there must also be a purpose to harass the victim. Thus, harassment cases often boil down to “he-said-she-said” situations in which the totality of the circumstances are extremely important. In other words, the context in which the alleged harassment occurred will inform the court as to whether or not there were actually one-too-many text messages, communications made at an inconvenient hour, or the use of coarse and offensive language.
Potential Consequences of Harassment in New Jersey
In most circumstances, harassment is considered a petty disorderly persons offense which carries a potential fine of $500 and 30 days of incarceration. However, if a person commits an act of harassment while serving a term of imprisonment or was on parole or probation as the result of a conviction of any indictable offense, it is a crime of the fourth degree, subjecting the defendant to a fine of up to $10,000 and eighteen months of incarceration. This day in age, with cell phones and social media, it is easy to be accused of sending too many messages, or making too many phone calls, or attempting to contact someone at an inconvenient hour. As mentioned above, harassment allegations can also result in a temporary restraining order if it occurs in the context of domestic violence.
Contact Phillipsburg Harassment Lawyers to Discuss Your Case
If you are charged with harassment in Sussex or Warren County, contact the experienced harassment defense attorneys at the Tormey Law Firm to learn more about how to defend your case. With decades of combined experience, we successfully represent clients facing harassment charges and restraining orders on a regular basis and we are prepared to advocate for you.
