Passaic County Harassment, Terroristic Threats Charges Dismissed

Domestic Violence Defense Lawyer in Passaic County, New Jersey

* Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances. *

Alissa Hascup recently defended a client who was charged with harassment, terroristic threats, and contempt in connection with an alleged domestic violence case in Passaic County, New Jersey. Terroristic threats is a third degree crime in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-3 and is punishable by between 3 and 5 years in New Jersey State Prison. In New Jersey, a person can be charged with terroristic threats for threatening to commit any crime of violence with the purpose to terrorize another. The client was also charged with harassment, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4, which is a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to 6 months in the county jail. Under New Jersey law, harassment can constitute any of the following:

• Making or causing to be made communications anonymously or at extremely inconvenient hours, or in offensively coarse language, or any other manner likely to cause annoyance or alarm;
• Subjecting another to striking, kicking, shoving, or other offensive touching, or threatening to do so; or
• Engaging in any other course of alarming conduct or of repeatedly committed acts with the purpose to alarm or seriously annoy such other person.

Lastly, Alissa’s client was charged with contempt, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9, for allegedly violating a restraining order. Contempt can be graded as a fourth degree crime or a disorderly persons offense, depending on the circumstances of the specific case. This case was handled in Passaic County Superior Court and the client was facing serious penalties, including incarceration, if they were found guilty.

Ultimately, Alissa was able to have all of the charges against her client dismissed by demonstrating to the Court that the alleged victim was not credible. In fact, the alleged victim provided multiple versions of events and she was highly intoxicated at the time the report was made. Alissa is often able to use her experience as a former Domestic Violence Prosecutor to formulate the most effective defense strategies for her clients. In this situation, her in-depth knowledge led to a fantastic outcome for her and her client.

If you are facing criminal charges for harassment or terroristic threats and/or a restraining order in Passaic County or elsewhere in New Jersey, Alissa Hascup can help. She has invaluable insight into the way the State prosecutes domestic violence cases and now she uses this knowledge to best defend her clients. For a free consultation about your case, contact Alissa Hascup at 862-257-1200.