Mohegan Sun Casino Stalking Lawyer
Even if there is nothing legally preventing you from visiting the Mohegan Sun Casino, an allegation that you stalked someone while they were also at the casino or as part of a “course of conduct” involving the casino can still lead to very serious criminal charges. In a situation like this, guidance from a knowledgeable Mohegan Sun Casino stalking lawyer is vital to handling your criminal proceedings effectively and minimizing the negative impacts this case may have on your life.
Degrees of Stalking Under State Law
The Connecticut Penal Code defines three distinct “degrees” of stalking as a criminal offense, two of which are misdemeanors and one of which is a felony. The least severe version of this offense is Stalking in the Third Degree, defined under Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) § 53a-181e as a Class B misdemeanor entailing someone recklessly causing another person to reasonably suffer emotional distress and/or fear for their own physical safety by willfully and repeatedly following or lying in wait for such other person.
Stalking in the Second Degree, which C.G.S. § 53a-181d defines as a Class A misdemeanor, can occur in three different ways:
- By intentionally engaging in a “course of conduct” resulting in someone else reasonably fearing for their own physical safety, for a third person or pet’s physical safety, and/or suffering emotional distress;
- By intentionally engaging in a “course of conduct” involving them contacting a targeted person’s place of business or employment in some way and, with intent to “harass, terrorize, or alarm, and for no legitimate purpose” causing that person to reasonably fear damage to their career or business prospects; and/or
- Intentionally disclosing someone else’s personally identifiable information through any form of electronic communication without that person’s consent, without legitimate purpose, with intent to terrorize or alarm, and in such a way that causes that person to experience emotional distress or fear for their or a third person’s physical safety.
As a Mohegan Sun Casino stalking attorney can further explain, a “course of conduct” in this context is two or more acts involving the defendant directly or indirectly following, lying in wait for, surveilling, harassing, sending unwanted gifts, threatening, or interfering with the personal property of another person.
Finally, Stalking in the First Degree is defined under C.G.S. § 53a-181c as a Class D felony which involves someone committing Stalking in the Second Degree after having previously been convicted of Stalking in the Second Degree at least once before, in violation of an active court order, targeting a person under 16 while they are over 22, or targeting someone else partially or entirely because of their perceived membership in a protected class. C.G.S. § 53a-181f additionally defines electronic stalking resulting in “substantial emotional distress” or reasonable fear of serious or fatal injury to the targeted person, their family member, or intimate partner of theirs as a Class D felony.
Possible Consequences of a Stalking Conviction
Misdemeanor stalking as defined above may result in maximum jail sentences of six months or one year and maximum fines of $1,000 or $2,000, depending on whether the offense is treated as a Class B or Class A Misdemeanor offense. Stalking in the First Degree, on the other hand, can carry up to five years of prison time and a maximum of $5,000 in fines upon conviction, even for first-time offenders with no prior criminal records.
Furthermore, anyone who criminally stalks a “family or household member” of theirs may have their offense categorized as a form of “family violence,” which could lead to them having a protective order imposed upon them and other sanctions in both criminal and family court.
Get in Touch With a Mohegan Sun Casino Stalking Attorney Today
Criminal cases built around Stalking charges can often be surprisingly subjective in terms of the evidence presented and the conclusions reached by judges and jury members. Put simply, you will want someone in your corner who has experience handling these cases in effective and proactive ways. Call today to discuss your options with a Mohegan Sun Casino stalking lawyer from the Law Offices of Mark Sherman, and click here to learn what our previous clients have said about working with us.