Harassment Attorney

Vancouver WA Domestic Violence Lawyer

In Washington, Harassment can either be charged as a felony or gross misdemeanor and is defined by RCW 9A.46.020, which is charged when threats are made that put the person threatened in reasonable fear of harm to their person or property. Harassment requires the following elements:

Harassment Gross Misdemeanor Elements

A person knowingly threatens immediately or in the future
To cause physical harm or to damage the property of another
To subject the person threatened to physical restraint or confinement
The person threatened was put in reasonable fear by the threats

Felony Harassment

Harassment may be charged as a class C felony when

The person charged has previously been convicted of harassment of the same victim
The victim is a person named in a no-contact order and the defendant is the respondent to that order.
The harassment alleged is a threat to kill another person
The person harassed is a criminal justice participant in the course of his/her official duties.

Harassment Domestic Violence

Harassment is a common domestic violence charge. The key element to a harassment charge is showing reasonable fear. Because the charge does not involve actual physical violence, but rather speech, the government must show that the person threatened was in reasonable fear of harm. This intersection between free speech and criminal activity is where a skilled defense attorney will focus on defending your harassment charge.

If you are charged with harassment, call our office to set up a free consultation to talk about your case. Kris Carrasco is experienced in handling hundreds of domestic violence charges and knows how to get the best possible results in your case. Contact us 24/7 to speak with an attorney about your case.

Feb 29, 2024

by GC on Kris Carrasco Attorney at Law

Out of State Restraining Order

I was in a horrible situation where the mother of my son had me arrested on false claims so she could kidnap our son and move to Washington from California. She filed a restraining order when she got to Washington, listing our son as a protected party and claimed I had been abusive to her and him, writing a statement filled with lies and stories going back many years. She went so far as to have her family members, whom had never left Washington submit statements as well. The whole thing was disturbing and as a result I wasn't able to see my son for months. Kris didn't get dragged into arguing the meritless claims she made but instead focused on the actual law. Washington did not have jurisdiction over me and as a result a restraining order was not legal. A temp judge granted the restraining order and Kris made the judge explain on the stand multiple times how Washington had jurisdiction. She could not. He filed a motion for reconsideration shortly after outlining case law and making it clear that the temp judge had made a mistake. A commissioner reviewed and granted the motion for reconsideration. As a result, I was able to be reunited with my son, 102 days later. Kris is an amazing lawyer and I can't thank him enough for what he did for me and my son. Don't hesitate to hire him.