Westport Second Degree Harassment Lawyer

If you are facing charges in Westport for second-degree harassment, it is a good idea to talk to a lawyer to learn how to protect your rights and about your defense options. A top-rated criminal lawyer can devise a defense strategy to attack the weaknesses in the case against you and help reach a positive outcome.

How Does Connecticut Define Harassment?

To be convicted of harassment in the second degree under Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) §53a-183, you must have been either acting with the specific intent to harass, annoy, or alarm another person, or using obscene or indecent language.

If you were to make a phone call or send a written communication with that goal or with language considered inappropriate, those very basic communications can be treated as criminal harassment. The phone call does not even need to include any conversation to be considered harassment, as long as it was made with the intent to annoy, worry, or harass someone.

A Westport second-degree harassment lawyer can work to show that there was no intent to bother another person or that language did not meet the standard to be considered obscene or indecent. If the alleged harassment involved written words, those words must be transported via mail, fax, or computer connection, or otherwise communicated to another person. Merely writing a statement should not be treated as harassment if there was no effort to deliver those words.

What Penalties Can I Face for Second Degree Harassment?

Harassment in the second degree is penalized as a Class C misdemeanor. Although misdemeanors are less serious than felonies, a conviction for a misdemeanor still creates a potentially damaging criminal record.

If you are convicted of harassment in the second degree, you can be sentenced to up to three months in jail. Additionally, you can be fined up to $500, and the record of the conviction becomes visible to anyone conducting a search online. A second-degree harassment lawyer in Westport can seek alternative penalties and work to keep the record clear of a conviction.

Contact a Westport Second-Degree Harassment Attorney

Second-degree harassment can seem like a minor criminal offense compared to other crimes on the books in Westport. However, because the conduct required to violate the statute is so common, it can be difficult to defend against the charge and avoid a criminal conviction. A minimal investment of time, energy and resources in defense could prevent a host of negative consequences later.

A Westport second-degree harassment lawyer can seek out evidence to build a defense plan to help minimize the negative consequences if you are facing harassment charges. Call Mark Sherman Law now to learn more about the advantages an experienced defense attorney could provide in your situation.

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