We all have the right to free speech, but that doesn’t actually mean that we can say whatever we want to anyone. It is possible to be charged with a crime when you threaten someone and they credibly believe that you will harm them. If you are accused of attempting to threaten someone and you are facing criminal charges as a result, you should talk to a Des Moines criminal defense lawyer from our firm.
When Can it Be a Crime to Threaten Someone?
If you threaten someone in some way, you are likely to be charged with harassment. There are three different degrees of harassment charges and which you will be charged with can depend on the nature of this alleged crime and any previous crimes on your record. Your actions can be considered a threat and harassment when you:
- Communicate with someone by telephone, writing, or email with no legitimate purpose and in a way likely to cause them harm or annoyance
- Purposefully have contact with a person with an intent to threaten or intimidate them
- Place a fake explosive near a vehicle or building occupied by a person
- Make false reports to law enforcement about a person
How Can I Be Punished If I Threaten Someone?
Punishments for harassment and making threats can be quite harsh. A conviction in the third degree can result in fines and up to 30 days in jail, but if you are accused of threatening someone you are more likely to be charged with harassment in the second or first degree. This can mean up to one year or up to two years in jail.
Another issue here is that this conviction will be on your record and easy for anyone to look up. Do you think that an employer is going to want to take a risk and hire someone with harassment convictions on their record when they could just hire someone else with similar qualifications? What about when you are dating? If your partner finds out about your record and how you have threatened someone in the past, do you think that’s something they’re going to find appealing?
Should I Hire a Lawyer If I’m Accused of Threatening Someone?
This is why you absolutely have to fight back against these charges. You cannot just reassure that you would never actually threaten someone and that the court is going to just naturally see your side of the story. An experienced criminal defense lawyer can help you build a defense and poke holes in the prosecution’s case against you. Do not let something like this stay on your record forever.
Contact Our Law Firm
Even if you claim that you weren’t serious or that you couldn’t follow through on your threats, you can still be punished when you threaten someone. So contact Herting Law, PLLC to schedule a consultation and start taking any charges leveled against you seriously. We are ready to help you defend yourself.
