Harassment

When Everett law enforcement charges you with harassment, it can leave you wondering how things escalated to this point and feeling confused, scared, and in disbelief. You might feel like the situation was a misunderstanding or something blown completely out of proportion. Regardless of how it happened, the reality is that a harassment charge in Washington state carries serious consequences. Your reputation will be tarnished, your freedom compromised, and the impact it will have on your family and future can be devastating.

Harassment is treated very seriously in Washington state. Even if you didn't intend to cause harm or were caught in a tense situation, the law can be unforgiving. Washington's harassment laws are broad and can include everything from threatening behavior to electronic or domestic harassment. As a gross misdemeanor, a harassment conviction has significant penalties like jail, fines, and permanent criminal record.

This is why you must have an experienced Bellevue harassment defense attorney by your side. When you're facing the possibility of severe penalties, you need a legal expert who specializes in Washington state harassment cases. We can challenge the evidence, work to reduce or even dismiss the charges, and help you avoid the life-altering consequences of a harassment conviction. Don't face this alone. Contact our skilled harassment defense attorneys at our Everett law offices now.

Washington State Harassment Charges Our Attorneys Defend Against

Our Everett attorneys specialize in harassment defense. Here is a list of harassment charges we defend against:

• Criminal Harassment
• Threatening with Intent to Harm
• Cyber Harassment
• Stalking
• Malicious Harassment
• Harassment with a Restraining Order Violation
• Domestic Violence Harassment
• Harassment via Physical Contact
• False Reporting of Harassment

For over 20 years, we've successfully challenged all types of harassment charges in Washington state. We understand the complexity of harassment laws and work to reduce or dismiss charges whenever possible. If you are facing harassment charges, contact our Everett law offices today for skilled legal support.

Why You Need An Everett Harassment Defense Attorney

When facing harassment charges in Everett, having our experienced defense attorneys by your side makes a huge difference in the outcome of your Snohomish County case. Here is how we can help you:

• Keep Your Rights Front And Center: Around here, ensuring you're treated fairly by law enforcement is what we do. We'll keep an eye on things to make sure you aren't pressured into saying anything that might hurt your case down the line.
• Build Your Defense: In Everett and across Washington state, we're known for putting holes in the prosecution's arguments. Whether it's getting your charges reduced or penalties lessened, we're on it.
• Demystify Harassment Laws: Harassment cases, especially ones involving domestic issues or online troubles, can get tricky. We'll make sense of the laws for you and steer you through the legal maze.
• Provide Support Every Step of the Way: We know how tough it is to face these charges. That's why we're here. We’re not just your lawyers but your support system, ready to listen and help you through.
• Guard Your Reputation: We understand the stakes are high with harassment cases in Bellevue and the broader Washington area. A tarnished reputation can close many doors, so we fight hard to get charges knocked down or dropped.
• Negotiate Any Possible Deals: We talk to prosecutors to get you a deal that minimizes the impact on your life. We aim for solutions that keep you out of jail, like community service or probation.
• Minimizing Consequences: If things are looking tough, we focus on cutting down the penalties. Our goal is to keep you away from severe punishments like lengthy jail terms or big fines.

With our knowledge and experience, we will fight for you.

Washington State Law Takes Harassment Very Seriously

In Washington state, harassment is very serious, and a conviction can lead to significant legal and personal consequences. A gross misdemeanor harassment charge can result in up to 364 days in jail and fines of up to $5,000. If the harassment involves threats of bodily harm or aggravating factors, the courts may charge you with a felony, with penalties including up to 5 years in prison.

In addition to jail time, you may pay court costs, probation (which may require counseling, community service, or regular check-ins), and restitution to compensate the victim. A protection order or no-contact order may also be issued, with violations leading to further criminal penalties. Finally, a harassment conviction will stay on your criminal record and potentially affect your future employment, housing, and personal relationships.

Schedule Your Free Consultation Now With Our Everett Defense Lawyers

As local attorneys who live and work here, we are committed to protecting the rights of our Everett neighbors. Whether you're spending time at Howarth Park, exploring Lundeen Park, or enjoying a peaceful afternoon at Northwest Stream Center, Everett is a wonderful place to live. Losing your freedom could mean missing out on all these moments. A harassment charge could potentially take you away from all the things you love about this community, including visiting the Historic Everett Theatre or grabbing a bite at Scuttlebutt Brewing with friends. That's why you need a local attorney who knows the city, its people, and its courts.

We firmly believe that every harassment charge can be successfully challenged in some way. Our lawyers have been doing so throughout Western Washington for over 20 years. If you or a loved one are facing a harassment criminal charge, speak with our experienced legal team now. Our harassment defense attorneys can do several things to ensure that your case has the best possible chance of a successful outcome.

Our team comprises experienced and aggressive lawyers who will fight to minimize penalties, protect your reputation, and work toward a favorable resolution. We are here to ensure that you don't lose your freedom or future because of a charge that can be challenged effectively. Contact us now to learn more.

Harassment can take on a variety of different forms, thus there are a variety of different criminal charges you can face when you harass an individual. These charges can range from gross misdemeanors up to even a class B felony. It is important to take these charges seriously because the prosecutor certainly will.

The most common form of harassment is when you unlawfully threaten to cause bodily injury, damage a person’s property, or physically restrain another person. These threats can be made either by a person’s own words or by their intentional conduct. This crime is a gross misdemeanor. However, if you have previously been convicted of harassing the same individual or a member of their family/household, or you threaten to kill the person, then it could be charged as a class C felony.

A more serious type of harassment is malicious harassment, which is a class C felony, meaning the maximum penalty is five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. This form of harassment is just like the standard type except the motivation is different. If the reason for the harassment is because of the victim’s perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or a mental, physical, or sensory handicap, then it is deemed malicious in nature.

Another typical type of harassment is telephone harassment, which is a gross misdemeanor but could potentially rise to a class C felony depending on the circumstances. Telephone harassment is when you call an individual with the intent to harass, intimidate, torment, or embarrass them. This can be accomplished through a variety of ways, including lewd or profane language or calling repeatedly or calling at odd hours with the above described intent.

Stalking is also a form of harassment. Stalking is when an individual intentionally and repeatedly follows another person with the intent to frighten, intimidate, or harass. If the person did not intend to but knew or reasonably should have known their actions would make the person afraid, feel intimidated or harassed, then they also could be convicted of stalking. In its standard form, stalking is a gross misdemeanor, which means the maximum penalty is 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. However, in certain circumstances, such as you carrying a deadly weapon at the time of the incident or a previous conviction of stalking the same person, stalking can be charged as a class B felony.

If you are facing a harassment accusation, do not hesitate to give our Everett, Washington, office a call. We will be more than happy to answer your questions and provide you with guidance through this difficult situation.