Have you received a Harassment Ticket in Weld County? In Greeley, Colorado, the affordable lawyers at the O’Malley Law Office can help you defend against a Harassment charge. In Weld County, if a person intentionally bothers, annoys, or alarms another repeatedly through contact, obscene gestures, hitting, taunting, or following in public, then they can receive a Harassment ticket. With over 30 years of experience using successful defenses in Harassment cases our lawyers will learn the details of your case and fight for you. If you are facing a Harassment ticket or charge in Larimer County, you can get affordable help here.
Definition of Harassment, C.R.S. 18-9-111, in Greeley, Colorado
In Greeley, the definition of Harassment, C.R.S. 18-9-111, is:
(a) Strikes, shoves, kicks, or otherwise touches a person or subjects him to physical contact; or
(b) In a public place directs obscene language or makes an obscene gesture to or at another person; or
(c) Follows a person in or about a public place; or
(d) Repealed.
(e) Directly or indirectly initiates communication with a person or directs language toward another person, anonymously or otherwise, by telephone, telephone network, data network, text message, instant message, computer, computer network, computer system, or other interactive electronic medium in a manner intended to harass or threaten bodily injury or property damage, or makes any comment, request, suggestion, or proposal by telephone, computer, computer network, computer system, or other interactive electronic medium that is obscene; or
(f) Makes a telephone call or causes a telephone to ring repeatedly, whether or not a conversation ensues, with no purpose of legitimate conversation; or
(g) Makes repeated communications at inconvenient hours that invade the privacy of another and interfere in the use and enjoyment of another’s home or private residence or other private property; or
(h) Repeatedly insults, taunts, challenges, or makes communications in offensively coarse language to, another in a manner likely to provoke a violent or disorderly response.
What is Kiana Arellano’s Law in Weld County?
Kiana Arellano’s Law refers to C.R.S. 18-9-111(3), which prohibits cyberbullying. This section of the law was created when in 2013 a high school sophomore and cheerleader attempted to hang herself resulting in a brain injury after she was bullied online by classmates. Harassment is a very broad crime that encompasses many behaviors including cyberbullying. If you or your child have been accused of cyberbullying, it is important to have a criminal defense lawyer fighting for your future.
In Erie, Colorado, are Harassment and Stalking Different Criminal Charges?
The short answer is yes, Harassment and Stalking are different charges in Erie. Stalking, located under C.R.S. 18-3-602, is defined as behavior that involves a credible threat plus following or contacting someone; or a threat to another or a family member repeatedly; or repeated contacts or following and they cause serious emotional distress. Stalking can be easy to prove, and is a felony with possible prison. Harassment is a misdemeanor. Conduct which starts as Harassment can morph into Stalking if the same conduct is repeated. Only a single incident is required for someone to be charged or convicted of Harassment in Weld County.
Penalties and Sentence for Harassment Conviction in Weld County
Most Harassment convictions in Weld County are class 2 misdemeanors with penalties of up to 120 days in the Weld County Jail and up to $750 in fines. If a defendant is charged with kicking, shoving, or following a person in a public place or their motivation for the behavior is due to the victim’s race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation, the sentence can fall under a class 1 misdemeanor. The penalties for a class 1 misdemeanor are up to 364 days in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.
Due to the broad number of behaviors that could be charged as Harassment, it is important to have a criminal defense lawyer who will aggressively navigate the Weld County Courts and fight for you.