Domestic Violence Harassment: What is It and How Can I Defend Against Allegations?

Intimate relationships between spouses and partners can become difficult for many different reasons, and in some circumstances, allegations of domestic violence arise. Domestic violence is not a specific offense unto itself, but rather is a broader term for thinking about violence that occurs between two people who are or were previously married, who are or were previously in a romantic relationship, or who share a child. Domestic violence can take many different forms, including harassment.

If you are facing allegations of domestic violence harassment, it is critical to understand the elements of the offense you are facing in addition to potential options for your defense. A Denver and Brighton domestic violence defense attorney can tell you more, and we are here to speak with you today about the details of your case.

What is Domestic Violence Harassment Under Colorado Law?

If you are accused of domestic violence harassment, what this means is that you are being accused of harassment under Colorado law with an enhancement due to domestic violence (in other words, the offense will be more serious if you are alleged to have committed it against a current or former intimate partner). Under CRS Section 18-9-111, a person commits the offense of harassment “if, with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm another person,” the person does any of the following:

• Strikes, shoves, kicks, or subjects a person to physical contact;
• Directs obscene language or an obscene gesture at another person in a public place;
• Follows a person in or about a place;
• Initiates communication with another person or directs language toward another person by nearly any electronic form of communication “in a manner intended to harass or threaten bodily injury or property damage,” or in a manner that is obscene;
• Repeatedly telephones a person with no intent of having a legitimate conversation;
• Contacts a person repeatedly at inconvenient hours in a way that invades that person’s privacy; or
• Repeatedly insults, taunts, challenges, or otherwise engages in offensive communication with another person “in a manner likely to provoke a violent or disorderly response.”

Ways to Defense Against Domestic Violence Harassment Allegations

How can you defend against this type of offense? The best defense will be tailored to the facts of your case, but common defense strategies include but are not limited to:

• You did not actually do any of the things that constitute harassment;
• You did not have the intent to harass (harassment requires intent); or
• You engaged in certain forms of repeated communication in an attempt to have a conversation with the other person about an important matter.

Contact Our Denver Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys for Help Today

Have you been accused of domestic violence harassment? Whether these allegations have arisen in conjunction with allegations that you violated the terms of a protective order or they have arisen on their own, you could be facing significant penalties in the event of a conviction. Whether you have been wrongly accused or you made a mistake and need assistance with your defense, one of the experienced Denver domestic violence defense lawyers at DeChant Law can speak with you today about the details of your case and your options for defending against the charges you are facing. Domestic violence is taken extremely seriously in Colorado, and a domestic violence conviction can have serious repercussions that extend beyond the penalties of a criminal sentence. Contact our firm to find out about your best defense options to avoid a conviction and a domestic violence offense on your criminal record.

Source:

law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-18/article-9/part-1/section-18-9-111/