Charged With Harassment in Westfield New Jersey
When relationships go bad, the parties usually go their separate ways, but emotions can get the better of you. Voice messages left on the other person’s phone, text messages and other forms of communication can become evidence against you in a Westfield Municipal Court prosecution for harassment. You might not have intended to alarm or annoy the other party, and you might believe you can go to court and simply tell your story to make the charges go away. Criminal charges do not merely go away, but a veteran Westfield harassment attorney gives you the best chance of avoiding the penalties and criminal record that a conviction for harassment can bring.
The criminal team at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall is composed of seasoned defense attorneys and former municipal court prosecutors with more than 100 years of collective experience appearing in Westfield and other courts in Union County. They devote their law practices exclusively to criminal defense and have compiled an outstanding record of successfully defending individuals charged with harassment. Our lawyers are dedicated to providing you with an aggressive defense to force the prosecution to present evidence to support what are otherwise unproven allegations. Find out how a lawyer at our firm can help by contacting us today at (908) 272-1700 for a free consultation.
Westfield Harassment Charges
It is a violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4 to engage in the following conduct:
- Making, or causing to be made, communications at extremely inconvenient times or communicating anonymously with another person or using offensively coarse language to annoy or alarm the person.
- Kicking, shoving, striking or offensive touching committed or threatened against another person.
- Engaging in a course of conduct intended to alarm or to seriously annoy another person.
Intent is a key element prosecutors must prove to convict you of harassment. They must present evidence proving beyond a reasonable doubt that your conduct was to annoy and harass another person. For example, if you are accused of harassment for repeatedly calling your former spouse and hanging up, it might appear to match the conduct prohibited by N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4. However, if the purpose of calling was to arrange to pick up your child for scheduled visitation and your former spouse refused to pick up the phone, your intent was not to harass. This is where the insight and legal knowledge of a Westfield harassment attorney can be the difference between a conviction and an acquittal.
Penalties for a Westfield Harassment Conviction
A conviction for harassment under N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4 is a petty disorderly persons offense for which you can be fined as much as $500, ordered to perform community service or sentenced to serve up to 30 days in the Union County Jail. The severity of the charge increases to an indictable offense of the fourth degree, the equivalent of a felony, if you were on probation or parole or incarcerated in jail or prison at the time of the alleged harassment. An indictable offense of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a fine for as much as $10,000.
Westfield Harassment Defense Attorney
The experience, resourcefulness and superior skills of a Westfield harassment defense attorney from the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall mean trusted legal advice and guidance and outstanding representation when you need it the most. When you go to court, you want to give yourself the best chance of beating a Westfield harassment charge, so contact us today to schedule a free consultation by calling (908) 272-1700. An attorney is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week to help you.
