Violating an Order of Protection or Injunction Against Harassment
In Arizona, violating an order of protection or an injunction against harassment is a criminal offense. In violating these court orders, an individual can be charged with interfering with judicial proceedings, specifically disobeying a court order, which is a class 1 misdemeanor.
Class 1 misdemeanors come with the harshest of all misdemeanor penalties and can result in incarceration of up to six months.
An order of protection may be ordered for a victim of domestic violence, whereas an injunction against harassment may be ordered for anyone experiencing continuous harassment. In these orders, a judge can prohibit the defendant from contacting the victim by certain methods and in certain locations.
Examples of violations can include:
- Texting or calling the victim, including from a different or hidden phone number.
- Emailing the victim, including from a different or disguised email address.
- Sending mail to the victim.
- Reaching out to the victim on social media.
- Being ordered to move out of the residence but returning to pack up your belongings.
- Responding to the victim after they reached out to you, including replying to a simple text or email.
- Coming within a certain radius of the victim.
- Purchasing a firearm.
If you have been served with an order of protection or an injunction against harassment, it is important to read, understand, and obey all the terms, regardless of whether or not you agree with them. This prevents you from being charged with any criminal offenses for interfering with judicial proceedings. If you have been served with such an order or injunction and would like to request a court hearing, reach out to Rideout Law Group.
RIDEOUT LAW GROUP
With offices in Lake Havasu City and Scottsdale, our firm serves the entire state of Arizona, with a particular focus on criminal defense, family law, and juvenile cases.
Our goal is for the best outcome for your criminal case, which can include:
- charges that are reduced or dropped.
- top experts reviewing your case.
- aggressive negotiations with the prosecution for plea bargains.
- fines or probation in lieu of jail time.
At Rideout Law Group, our attorneys are able to expertly examine the evidence in your case to provide a strong strategy for argument that leads to an outcome that is most favorable to you. We have experience in all types of criminal cases for both adults and juveniles, with positive outcomes both in plea negotiations as well as jury trial settings.
Call us today for a free consultation at 480-584-3328.