Harassment is a Class 3 misdemeanor. Harassment charges often occur in the domestic violence context, but are not limited to domestic violence situations. A conviction for harassment can result in a sentence of imprisonment in the county jail of up to 6 months.
In order to prove the crime of harassment, the prosecutor must establish that you intended to harass, annoy, or alarm the victim, and did one of the following:
Striked, shoved, kicked, or otherwise touched a person or subjected him to physical contact
In a public place, directed obscene language or made an obscene gesture to or at another person
Followed a person in or about a public place
Initiated communication with a person, by telephone, computer, computer network, or computer system in a manner intended to harass or threaten bodily injury or property damage, or made any comment, request, suggestion or proposal by telephone, computer, computer network, or computer system that is obscene
Made a telephone call or caused a telephone to ring repeatedly, with no purpose of legitimate conversation
Made repeated communications at inconvenient hours that invaded another’s privacy and interfered in the use and enjoyment of another’s home or private residence or other private property
Repeatedly insulted, taunted, challenged, or made communications in offensively coarse language to another in a manner likely to provoke violent or disorderly response.
What can constitute a harassment charge may surprise you. For example, spitting on another can constitute “physical contact” sufficient to constitute harassment. Oftentimes, individuals are charged with harassment under situations which may present First Amendment defenses based on constitutionally protected speech. In other situations, it may be possible to disprove a harassment charge by establishing that the defendant did not possess the requisite intent.
Domestic violence charges in Colorado carry significant legal and social consequences. A conviction can result in jail time, fines, mandatory counseling, and a permanent criminal record, not to mention the potential damage to personal and professional relationships.
Perhaps the worst consequence for a parent is the possibility of being kept apart from your children – not for a conviction, just for being charged.
In Denver, as in many other jurisdictions, the intersection of substance abuse and domestic violence presents complex legal challenges. In this blog post, we will explore the relationship between substance abuse and domestic violence, how allegations of substance abuse can impact legal proceedings in Denver, and available resources for individuals seeking help. We will also discuss the importance of building a strong defense with an experienced criminal defense lawyer to
Trespassing is a common offense that occurs when an individual unlawfully enters or remains on another person’s property without permission. In Denver, trespassing can occur on both public and private property, but there are distinct differences in how these cases are handled under the law. Understanding these differences, including the legal standards, potential consequences, and defense strategies, is essential for individuals facing trespassing charges in Denver.