Baltimore Stalking Lawyer
Initiating certain forms of contact with another person who has been asked to be left alone could be construed as ongoing harassment and could result in you being charged with stalking. It is advisable that you speak with a knowledgeable domestic violence attorney if you are facing stalking charges.
A Baltimore stalking lawyer could prepare a defense to help you fight the charges while also protecting your constitutional right to due process.
You could be charged with stalking even if you did not intend to harass or stalk another person. If another person feels threatened in any way by persistent conduct on your part, that individual might choose to an application for charges, which could result in you being charged with and prosecuted for stalking.
If this has happened to you, consider retaining a stalking attorney who handles stalking cases and is familiar with stalking laws who could work on your behalf to obtain the best possible legal outcome for you.
Laws Against Stalking
Stalking is a criminal offense defined in section 3-802 of the Maryland criminal law code as a malicious and persistent pattern of behavior that involves pursuing or approaching another person. The law further states that stalking involves actions that cause another person serious emotional distress and place that person in reasonable fear of certain outcomes, including serious bodily injury, sexual assault, false imprisonment, or death. In general, stalking is a behavior that causes an alleged victim to feel persistently harassed.
In some stalking situations, a court might issue a protective order (also known as a restraining order) on behalf of an alleged victim of stalking who files a petition for a protective order and is otherwise eligible to seek such an order. A protective order prohibits the alleged stalker from contacting or approaching the person protected by the order. Violating a protective order could result in additional criminal charges separate from any stalking charges.
Stalking Behaviors
The law defines stalking as a persistent pattern of behavior over time. Such behavior is unwanted and unwelcome by the person at whom it is directed. Examples of behaviors that constitute stalking when exhibited repeatedly include:
- Harassing phone calls
- Harassing text or email messages
- Sending unwanted flowers, cards, and other gifts
- Showing up uninvited at a person’s job, school, or home
- Following a person around in public
Other types of harassing behaviors beyond those listed above could also constitute stalking. It is best to avoid making contact with a person who has asked to be left alone to avoid potential allegations of stalking. A Baltimore stalking attorney could answer specific questions about behaviors that might be considered stalking.
Legal Penalties for Stalking in Baltimore
Stalking is a misdemeanor offense that can be punished by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to 5,000, or both imprisonment and a fine.
A person with prior convictions for stalking could receive the maximum fine and the maximum term of imprisonment for subsequent stalking convictions. A tenacious attorney for stalking could answer specific questions about the possible legal penalties for a first-time conviction versus a subsequent one.
Talk to a Baltimore Stalking Attorney Today
Contact a Baltimore stalking attorney for assistance if you have been charged with stalking. An attorney could review the details of the charges to determine if the alleged behavior meets the legal criteria for a stalking offense. If the case moves forward to prosecution, an attorney could work to prepare a credible defense to the charges.
In addition to providing legal representation and defending you against stalking charges, a lawyer could also fight to protect your legal rights at all times. Speak with a Baltimore stalking lawyer about your case today.