There is no doubt that stalking, usually one ex-spouse or paramour preference, is extremely unsettling. 1 However, as outlined below, it is only illegal in some situations. Furthermore, some effective defenses are available. The decision on whether to get a criminal defense attorney for stalking is an important one to consider.
Most of these defenses are rooted in the nature of a criminal stalking charge. In family court, alleged victims must only establish the elements of stalking by a preponderance of the evidence, or more likely than not. But in criminal court, prosecutors must establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. That’s the highest burden of proof in the law.
Stalking has serious direct and indirect consequences. Criminal convictions never fall off your record. If you go to civil or criminal court fifteen or twenty years after the case ends, the conviction could be relevant. Additionally, if you are ever in another domestic dispute, responding officers will automatically assume you were the offender.
All these things make it very important to work with an effective defense attorney for stalking. A lawyer knows how to minimize or eliminate these consequences. Furthermore, an attorney guides you through the confusing legal process, so you do not feel alone.
Elements of the Offense
Second-degree harassment, which is the primary anti-stalking law in New York, is extremely broad. 2 There are basically two kinds of stalking/harassment, as follows.
Following a Person
There is no such thing as coincidental stalking. If two people live in the same neighborhood, or even in the same ZIP code, they will occasionally, or even regularly, be in the same place at the same time. Generally, unless prosecutors convince jurors the defendant went out of his/her way to be in a certain place, charges usually do not hold up in court.
Additionally, the following must be in a public place. If the alleged victim works in the same large office as the defendant, the defendant does not “follow” the victim every time s/he visits the water cooler.
Repetitive Acts
This form of stalking/harassment is much more complex. This offense has a number of moving parts, and the state has the burden of proof on each one.
First, stalking is not a one-time event. The law requires “a course of conduct” or the commission of multiple acts. The law is a bit unclear as to whether the acts must be different specific acts. If the defendant follows the alleged victim home three times in one month, that could be a single act.
Second, there must be actual harm. The generally unsettling nature of stalking is insufficient. Instead, the defendant must “alarm or seriously annoy such other person.”
Third, these repeated acts must serve no legitimate purpose. Giving unsolicited gifts is a good example. Some people consider such behavior harassing. But the defendant might see things differently.
How a Stalking Defense Attorney Leverages Defenses
Lack of evidence is usually the best defense in these cases. A stalking prosecution usually hinges on the alleged victim’s testimony. These individuals sometimes have credibility issues. For example, no one is sure how many alleged victims fabricate or exaggerate stories to gain an advantage in a current or future civil case. But these situations do happen.
Additionally, stalking cases usually involve law enforcement investigations. Typically, the alleged victim files a complaint, and officers follow up on that complaint. Procedural defects, like the improper questioning of a suspect or the lack of a search warrant, are rather common in these situations.
A defense attorney for stalking uses defenses like these to either have the charges dismissed, obtain a not-guilty verdict, or, most commonly, work out a favorable plea bargain agreement. These agreements often include pretrial diversion or other alternatives that result in no criminal conviction.
Reach Out to a Dedicated Attorney
There are several defenses to serious stalking charges. For a free consultation with an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Rochester, contact the Law Office of Frank Ciardi.
Sources:
[1] https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ovw/172204.pdf
[2] https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/240.26