Sooooo, I just got charged with Harassment

[GilpinGuy]

18-9-111 (1)(a) to be exact. I got a summons, not arrested.

It's a steaming pile of bovine excrement, but alas, court is in 6 weeks.

It's probably not the best idea to discuss details here. Are any of the legal scholars on here willing to give me any NONBINDING, OFF THE RECORD, "just two guys talking" kind of thoughts via PM?

I'm not really looking for specific legal "advice". More of what to expect, etc. I haven't been in a courtroom in 25 freaking years. Hell, maybe I need a recommendation for an attorney, I don't know. This whole thing seems frivolous to me, but who knows.

Thanks.

[BushMasterBoy]

If your lawyer knows more than the state i.e. cop, prosecutor, judge etc you will get it dismissed. Dig up dirt on the "victim". Lots of other stuff you can do too. Good luck on your case!


http://www.lpdirect.net/casb/crs/18-9-111.html

[Skip]

Sorry.

There are some great folks on here who I'm sure will help out.

Since the charge (1a) implies violence (obviously you aren't talking details) I would seriously consider hiring counsel.

[USMC88-93]

Lawyer (and a good one) ...........Now.

[BushMasterBoy]

Run a background check on the complainant. Then you can see if they have a "history". Whatever you do, don't contact the person. It sucks when you have to study the law to protect yourself from a-holes!

Get a copy of the police report too.



https://www.intelius.com/criminal-records

[TheGrey]

Run a background check on the complainant. Then you can see if they have a "history". Whatever you do, don't contact the person. It sucks when you have to study the law to protect yourself from a-holes!

Get a copy of the police report too.



https://www.intelius.com/criminal-records

NO, a thousand times NO. Intelius and all those internet background site checks have stale and often incorrect data. Waste of money.

Also, make sure your counsel has a damn good paralegal or a licensed PI that is skilled at OSINT.

[BushMasterBoy]

Always worked for me!

NO, a thousand times NO. Intelius and all those internet background site checks have stale and often incorrect data. Waste of money.

Also, make sure your counsel has a damn good paralegal or a licensed PI that is skilled at OSINT.

[TheGrey]

Always worked for me!

The issue is that anyone can access it with a credit card, which means there are practically no controls in place to make sure that the data provided is actually the John Smith you're looking for....and not his son, John Smith II, or a John Smith that happened to live at the same address ten years prior, and that it is complete, etc. PIs have access to databases that are far more accurate- and when dealing with a court case involving yourself/job/reputation/background, you don't want to take chances on "good enough".

[GilpinGuy]

This happened at work and it was a "guest" that insisted on pressing charges (not a coworker). No way I'm going to court without an attorney, whether work provides one for me or I have to hire one myself. Calls will be made in a few hours to decide which it will be.

Also, I'd like to avoid any LEO bashing here. They had nothing to do with this and only did what they were required to do at the time. Not their fault in this incident at all.

[CS1983]

Does your place of employment have any provision for legal counsel for employees for something in the line of duty? Why would the plaintiff have you charged but not also be pursuing action against the place of employment? Could it be they know an army of lawyers will rip their ass to shreds over BS, but think they have a chance to get back at you, a relative peon? Does the place of employment have security cam footage of the incident? Given its location, I cannot but think they do -- and if they do, why are you still an employee if guilty as shown as video footage? Hrm.