Communicating Threats in North Carolin
Communicating threats in North Carolina – Be careful what you say to people. This is pretty good advice in general, and especially good advice when it comes to criminal law. We have spoken intensively in another blog about how statements can be used against someone to prove guilty. What is also true is that statements themselves can be what leads to criminal charges in the first place.
A good example of this is communicating threats. Communicating threats is a criminal charge that can lead to some very serious consequences. In this blog we will explain a little about this crime. This is North Carolina specific, and is for informational purposes only.
The information in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for the advice and counsel of a criminal defense lawyer. If you have been charged with any crime, you should contact a criminal defense lawyer immediately.
What is communicating threats?
Communicating threats a crime that is government by North Carolina General Statute 14-277.1. Under this statute, it is against the law to willfully threaten to injure a person, a person’s spouse, a person’s child, or a person’s property.
It is not enough to simply make the threat. The state has to prove that it was reasonable that the threat could have been carried out. Like all other crimes, it is the governments burden to prove that the defendant committed the crime, beyond a reasonable doubt.
Examples of communicating threats
Communicating threats is not limited to verbal, in person conversation. Here are just a few examples of communicating threats:
- Posting on someone’s timeline on Facebook or sending them a Facebook message saying “The next time I see you, I’m going to kick your ass.”
- Texting someone: “I hate you, if I am ever near you again, I’m going to key your car.”
- Telling someone in person: “I’m going to kill you.”
- E-mailing someone: “I’m going to make sure you and your entire family suffers, tell your son to watch his back.”
These are just a few examples. There are a wide range of behaviors that would constitute communicating threats.
Consequences for communication threats
Communicating threats is punished as a Class 1 misdemeanor and follows the North Carolina misdemeanor sentencing guidelines. An interesting fact to consider is that communicating threats is actually a more serious charge than simple assault, which is only punished as a Class 2 misdemeanor.
If you have been charged with a crime in North Carolina, have been charged with a crime in South Carolina, or have been charged with a federal crime, contact us. Gilles Law is a charlotte criminal defense law firm that handles criminal charges in the surrounding areas.
