If you, or someone you care about, has been charged (or may be) with a Harassment crime in King County, Skagit County, Snohomish County, or Whatcom County, call Ashbach Law Offices, LLC today at (360) 659-4950 for a free, no-pressure case evaluation.
With a reputation in the legal community as aggressive, effective and successful criminal defense attorneys, we are here to help you through your difficult times.
The lawyers at Ashbach Law Offices, LLC provide aggressive, strong defense for those charged with harassment and telephone harassment offenses throughout Skagit, Snohomish, King and Whatcom Counties. Our goal is to aggressively protect you, your family and your interests from the prosecution, saving jail time, licenses, occupations and reputations. With offices in Marysville and Mill Creek, Washington, we are available to meet you discuss your case. We help good people in bad situations. Let us help you.
General Considerations
Harassment and Telephone Harassment are deemed to have been committed both where the alleged harassment occurred and where the alleged harassment was received.
Often, Harassment and Telephone Harassment charges carry the “Domestic Violence” tag, which is discussed on the Domestic Violence page of this website.
Harassment
Subject to First Amendment limitations, harassment is defined as the knowingly-made threat to
a) cause bodily injury immediately or in the future to the person threatened or to any other person
b) cause physical damage to the property of a person other than the actor
c) subject the person threatened or any other person to physical confinement or restraint, or
d) maliciously to do any other act which is intended to substantially harm the person threatened or another with respect to his or her physical or mental health or safety
However, the words or conduct must place the person threatened in reasonable fear that the threat would be carried out. “Words or conduct” as defined include any form of communication, including electronic communication.
Typically Harassment is filed as a Gross Misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and/or a $5000 fine. However, if the words or conduct involved a threat to kill, the person allegedly threatened was a criminal justice participant in the line of duty, or it is a repeat office, the Harassment charge may be filed as a Class C Felony.
At arraignment, the court is required to consider imposition of a No Contact Order.
Additionally, a person convicted of harassment is required to provide a DNA sample to law enforcement.
Telephone Harassment
Telephone Harassment is also subject to First Amendment limitations, but is defined as the making of a telephone call with the intent to harass, intimidate, torment or embarrass any other person, by
a) using any lewd, lascivious, profane, indecent or obscene words or language, or suggesting the commission of any lewd or lascivious act
b) calling anonymously or repeatedly or at an extremely inconvenient hour, whether or not conversation ensues
c) threatening to inflict injury on the person or property of the person called or any member of his or her family or household
Like Harassment, Telephone Harassment is typically charged as a Gross Misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and/or a $5000 fine. However, if the telephone communication involved a threat to kill, or the person making the communication has prior harassment convictions, or the communication was in violation of a court order, Telephone Harassment may be charged as a Class C Felony.
Ashbach Law Offices, LLC, aggressively represents clients charged with Harassment and Telephone Harassment offenses throughout the Washington I-5 corridor, covering Skagit, Snohomish, King and Whatcom Counties. Regular courts of practice include, but are not limited to, Anacortes, Arlington, Bellevue, Bellingham, Blaine, Burlington, Edmonds, Everett, Issaquah, Lynnwood, Marysville, Monroe, Mount Vernon, Mountlake Terrance, Redmond, Seattle, Sedro Woolley and Shoreline.