Electronic Communication Harassment - Telephone Harassment
Attorney
Electronic communication harassment, sometimes called "telephone"
harassment, is a serious criminal charge punishable by up to six months
in jail, a year in jail, or even five years in prison depending on the
specific circumstances of the case. If you are facing criminal
prosecution for
electronic communication harassment or other criminal charges, you need
an experienced
Utah criminal
defense attorney. Based in Salt Lake City, Stephen Howard has
a record of achieving
real results for his
clients.
Contact us today to
schedule an initial consultation.
Penalties for Electronic Communication Harassment in Utah
If committed against an adult, electronic communication harassment is
charged as a class B
misdemeanor
for a first offense (six months in jail as a maximum sentence).
A
second offense or a first offense committed against a minor is charged
as a class A misdemeanor (one year in jail as a maximum sentence).
Electronic communication harassment
becomes a third degree
felony
(0-5 years in prison possible) if a person has a prior conviction
involving a minor, or if it is the person's third offense.
The offense can also be charged as a
domestic violence
offense under some circumstances.
Criminal Charges for Electronic Communication Harassment in
Utah
A typical charge of electronic communication harassment involves
allegations that a person has repeatedly contacted another person via
an
electronic form of communication, particularly after they have been
told not to contact that other person, with the "intent to annoy,
alarm, intimidate, offend, abuse, threaten, harass, frighten, or
disrupt the electronic communications of another." Electronic
communication harassment can also be charged for a single incident if
the person "insults, taunts, or challenges the recipient of the
communication or any person at the receiving location in a manner
likely to provoke a violent or disorderly response;" or "threatens to
inflict injury, physical harm, or damage to any person or the property
of any person." More rare, but still covered under the crime
of electronic communication harassment is an allegation that a person
has caused "disruption, jamming, or overload of an electronic
communication system through excessive message traffic or other means
utilizing an electronic communication device."
Traditionally, the form of electronic communications available to most
people was the telephone, and this offense was referred to as
"telephone harassment." As technology has advanced, the
legislature has broadened the scope of the criminal code to include
other forms of electronic communications email, fax, and pager
communication as well as telephone communication.
Finding a Utah Criminal Lawyer in Salt Lake City
If you have been charged with telephone harassment or electronic
communication harassment, you should have an experienced criminal
defense lawyer on your side. Based in Salt Lake City,
criminal
defense attorney Stephen
Howard represents clients throughout Utah. He has the
experience and skill to get
real results for his clients. His
track record speaks
for itself.
Contact Stephen Howard
now
to learn how he can help you.