Stalking is the willful, malicious and repeated following or harassing of another person, paired with a credible threat that leaves the victim feeling fearful for his or her safety or the safety of his or her immediate family. While following is a fairly obvious term, harassing can be a little more vague. Under state law, harassing behavior is willful conduct that  seriously alarms, annoys, terrorizes or torments the intended victim with no legitimate purpose.

Whether or not it is in conjunction with domestic violence, stalking is a serious crime. Even a first offense can be charged as a felony with a potential punishment of three years in state prison or a up to a year in jail.  A second offense may land you four years in prison.  You may also be required to take anger management classes and if the victim was a spouse or someone you were dating, you may also be forced to take a year long domestic violence class as well. In some circumstances, the court may even force you to register as a sex offender, a punishment that will last a lifetime.

When you call this office regarding stalking accusations, Peter M. Liss will review your case, including your relationship with the alleged victim and any previous accusations made against you to determine the best course of action for your particular situation. If you have been accused of stalking another person, please call a skilled Vista stalking lawyer like Mr. Liss at (760) 643-4050 as soon as possible.

Creative Commons Image by Dolly Haorambam