There are a variety of reasons why an individual may have a no-contact order put in place against them. Whatever the reason, the first thing you should do is take a deep breath when receiving the document and then carefully read it. Many people who are served out of the blue are angry and immediately want to contact the protected person. Obviously, this is not a good idea.
Once the order is put in place, it is now in the hands of a judge. You cannot reach out to the protected person to try to convince them to change their mind. That communication would typically be a violation of the order which could lead to a new criminal law violation! A protection order remains in place until a judge removes it. Sometimes this has to be done with a new order from the Judge. In other instances, the original issuing Judge put an expiration date on the protection order so that it will expire after a certain period of time, which means nothing further needs to be done. This is important to be aware of because, even if the protected party contacts you, if you respond, it is a violation of the order. The order remains in place even if the protected party initiates contact and wants to communicate. Only the judge can remove that barrier.
A normal no-contact/protection order prohibits you from making any type of contact with the person. This includes phone calls, emails, text messages, in-person communication, and even through third parties.
A typical no-contact order violation is a gross misdemeanor, which means the maximum penalty is 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. A violation could be charged as a felony if the “contact” was an assault. This means even if the assault would have been charged as a gross misdemeanor under normal circumstances, it will be charged as a felony because of the no-contact order. Also, if you have been previously convicted of violating the no-contact order, then you can also be charged with a class C felony.
If you are facing a criminal charge for violating a no-contact order or if someone is trying to have one put against you, contact the Law Offices of Jason S. Newcombe in Bellevue, WA. One of our firm's experienced Bellevue criminal defense lawyers can help you understand your rights and options.