Middletown
Criminal Defense Lawyer
Harassment
On of the more common criminal offenses encountered in Middletown is harassment. In many instances, this charge is filed in tandem with a restraining order. Irrespective of the circumstances under which you were charged with harassment in the Township of Middletown, an attorney at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall is well positioned to assist you. Our eight member defense team is the largest in the region and also features former prosecutors from the county, including from the adjacent municipalities of Holmdel, Hazlet and Matawan. We obviously know our way around Middletown Municipal Court and our attorneys are prepared to put their 100 plus years of experience into action in order to secure the very best outcome in your case. To this end, you are encourage to contact our Middletown Law Office for a free initial consultation. Our lawyers can be reached any time of day or night at 732-615-0039.
Harassment Charge in Middletown Township New Jersey
The New Jersey Harassment Law is contained at N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4. This statute states that an individual commits harassment if, with the purpose to harassment, he/she:
a. Makes, or causes to be made, a communication or communications anonymously or at extremely inconvenient hours, or in offensively coarse language, or any other manner likely to cause annoyance or alarm;
b. Subjects another to striking, kicking, shoving, or other offensive touching, or threatens to do so; or
c. Engages in any other course of alarming conduct or of repeatedly committed acts with purpose to alarm or seriously annoy such other person.
A communication under subsection a. may be deemed to have been made either at the place where it originated or at the place where it was received.
d. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2001, c. 443).
e. A person commits a crime of the fourth degree if, in committing an offense under this section, he was serving a term of imprisonment or was on parole or probation as the result of a conviction of any indictable offense under the laws of this State, any other state or the United States.
There is much to be taken from this language including, as a starting point, that there is no requirement that the conduct be committed in public like what is required for disorderly conduct. The primary reason for this stems from the fact that harassment targets alarming, annoying or other actionable conduct directed at a particular person for the purpose of harassing them. As you can see, a variety of conduct undertaken to harass can result in a violation of 2c:33-4 including use of inappropriate language, alarming behavior and communications at inconvenient hours.
In most cases, harassment is a disorderly persons offense. The charge escalates, however, to a fourth degree crime when the circumstances set forth under subsection (e) apply. A disorderly persons offense for harassment results in a criminal record, a fine of up to $1,000 and a county jail sentence of up to six (6) months. Fourth degree harassment carries a state prison term of up to 18 months and a maximum fine of $10,000.
Middletown Harassment Defense Attorney
At The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, we are capable of providing you with representation from a defense team with qualification that few can parallel. Our lawyers have been appearing in Middletown Municipal Court on harassment and other offenses for well over twenty (20) years. A Middletown criminal attorney who is a member of our 100 plus year experienced staff is ready to speak to you at 732-615-0039. They will take the time to conduct a thorough review of the facts and circumstances of your arrest and plot a course for you to avoid a conviction.