Are you facing a Harassment charge in Weld County? When a person intentionally bothers, annoys, or alarms another by way of repeated contact, obscene gestures, hitting, taunting, or following in public they can be charged with Harassment. The attorneys at the O’Malley Law Office know that people can make mistakes and let their feeling cloud their judgement. These mistakes can result in Harassment charges with penalties of almost a year of jail time and fines. Let our attorneys help you with your criminal case in Weld County. Below, our Harassment attorneys discuss Harassment charges in great detail. If you are facing charges in Fort Collins or Larimer County get, help here.
Colorado Legal Definition of Harassment, C.R.S. 18-9-111,
In Colorado, the legal definition of Harassment, C.R.S. 18-9-111, is:
A person commits harassment if, with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm another person, he or she:
(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(d) Repealed.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.
Pay special attention to this: For each of these subsections, the Weld County District Attorney must prove that you acted with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm another person. This is an essential component, and without this intent, they can’t convict you. In many cases, there are reasons other than with the intent to harass, annoy, or alarm another person, which was at the basis of your conduct.
Common Examples of Harassment in Greeley, Colorado
The definition of Harassment is very broad and there are many behaviors or situations that are considered Harassment in Greeley. Some common examples of Harassment are:
- Spitting on someone in public
- Sending repeated threaten texts or calling someone repeatedly
- Following someone from bar to bar
- Repeatedly cussing at someone
- Taunting a person at a restaurant
- Pushing another person
Simply put, there are many behaviors that a person can do and then face a Harassment charge. However, there are two specific requirements for a charge to be made, first the person must intend to harass, annoy, or alarm another person. Secondly a person must take one of the actions listed in the statute above such as hitting, taunting, following, communicating, etc.
Punishment for a Harassment Conviction in Weld County
In Weld County, the punishment for a Harassment conviction depends on what action caused the charge in the first place. A petty offense conviction would result if a defendant used obscene language or gestures repeatedly in public. The penalties for a petty offense are up to 10 days in Weld County Jail and / or up to $300 in fines. Most of the rest of Colorado Harassment charges are considered class 2 misdemeanors with penalties of up to 120 days in jail and / or up to $750 in fines. If the actions were following a person in public, touching them unlawfully, or if the actions were discrimination based, the sentence is a class 1 misdemeanor with penalties of up to 364 days in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines.