Harassment might not sound like a serious criminal charge but it can affect your life for years to come with a criminal record, fine and even a jail term that may be imposed by the judge of the Union Municipal Court. When it occurs between couples who are married or dating, a charge of harassment can result in finding of domestic violence and entry of a restraining order that can certainly effect your life even more. If you have been charged with harassment in this or another context, hiring a lawyer who is skilled in this area law can prove to be invaluable. They can help you escape the collateral consequences of being found guilty, as well as the direct penalties, a harassment offense in Union New Jersey. The lawyers at our Union Township firm, the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, are seasoned former prosecutors with over 100 years of experience. We know how much you value your freedom and your rights and are committed to providing you with a skilled, aggressive and focused defense to achieve an outstanding result. To do make the mistake of believing that your being arrested means that you will automatically have a conviction on the harassment charge. Our attorneys are capable of escaping a conviction in most harassment cases we handle in Union New Jersey. An attorney is available to assist you immediately at 908-272-1700.
Harassment Charge in Union Township New Jersey
N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4 is the New Jersey harassment statute and sets forth several varieties of conduct that can result in a conviction. This law bars the following conduct:
- Communicating with the victim at extremely inconvenient times (e.g. calling, texting, emailing or face to face);
- Communicating anonymously;
- Using offensively coarse language likely to annoy or alarm;
- Kicking, striking, shoving or engaging in offensive touching of another person;
- Threatening to kick, strike or engage in offensive touching; or
- Engaging in a course of alarming conduct or repeated acts intended to alarm or seriously annoy another individual.
Prosecutors must present evidence proving beyond a reasonable doubt that you engaged in one of the these categories of misconduct with the intention to harass. As your Union harassment lawyer, we challenge the evidence and put prosecutors to the task of producing evidence to prove each element of the charge. For example, simply because someone finds a text(s), email(s) or telephone calls annoying does not prove harassment unless prosecutors can show you acted intentionally.
Penalties and Other Consequences of Union Harassment Offense
Harassment is a petty disorderly persons offense. If convicted, you could be fined up to $500 and sentenced to jail for up to 30 days. If you were on probation, parole or serving time for an indictable offense, your harassment charge could be a fourth degree crime, the equivalent of a felony, and imprisoned for up to 18 months.
If the victim is your spouse, parent, child or someone you might have been dating, the charges could be treated as domestic violence. The family division of the superior court could issue a temporary restraining order prohibiting you from having any contact with the victim until a hearing is held to determine if a final restraining order should be issued.
Union NJ Harassment Offense Defense Attorney
A harassment lawyer from the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall reviews the facts and circumstances of each case to identify a defense strategy to achieve the best result for you. Our attorneys have years of experience serving Union Township Municipal Court and have successfully defended countless harassment offense cases over the last several decades. An attorney with the tools to help you avert a conviction is ready to help you immediately by calling 908-272-1700.
