Westport Threat to Harm Lawyer
If you are accused of threatening someone else with physical injury or the commission of a violent crime, you could face misdemeanor or even felony charges depending on what you allegedly said and the presence of other aggravating factors.
A knowledgeable Westport threat to harm lawyer could help you understand how Connecticut law defines this offense and what your options are for fighting your charges.
How Does State Law Define Threatening as a Criminal Offense?
As defined by Connecticut General Statutes §53a-62, second-degree threatening typically involves someone making a physical threat against someone else that puts the targeted individual in fear of suffering serious injury. It can also involve someone knowingly terrorizing someone else by threatening to commit a criminal offense, or recklessly terrorizing someone else with such a threat. A top Westport defense lawyer could explain why it is you were charged with this crime, and work to provide the prosecutors with evidence that you are not guilty.
Is Threatening a Felony?
If committed against an individual person or place of business, this offense is a Class A misdemeanor. If committed against a place of worship, religious community center, educational facility, or day care center, it is elevated to a Class D felony, in which case representation from a Westport criminal threatening attorney may be especially crucial.
First-degree threatening—codified in C.G.S. §53a-61aa—involves making a threat of violence or criminality that involves a hazardous substance or firearm, and/or is intended to prompt the evacuation of a building. This offense is a Class D felony under most circumstances, but like second-degree threatening, it can be elevated to a Class C felony if committed against a religious, educational, or day care facility.
What Are the Potential Consequences of a Conviction?
Whether a threatening offense is classified as a misdemeanor or a felony, the criminal penalties associated with a conviction can still be severe. Class A misdemeanor convictions can result in up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine, whereas Class D and Class C felony conviction may respectively result in maximum sentences of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine, and ten years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
In addition, someone accused of making a criminal threat of harm will almost always have a restraining order issued against them with a condition that they cease all contact with the protected party whom they allegedly threatened. This order will persist until the conclusion of their case, at which point it may be made permanent if the case ends with a conviction. At all stages of these proceedings, a qualified threat to harm lawyer in Westport could provide guidance and support to a defendant accused of any variety of this offense.
Talk to a Westport Threat to Harm Attorney Today
If you are facing any degree of threatening charge, retaining a skilled Westport threat to harm lawyer should be your top priority. Our hundreds of 5-star client reviews speak for themselves; a lawyer can help you. Call today to set up your initial consultation and get started on your case.