Suffolk County Domestic Violence and Stalking

Stalking is a common form of domestic violence. It involves behavior toward another person that is so obsessive and unreasonable that it becomes not only disruptive, but threatening. When such behavior occurs between people who are married, dating, or who were once married or once dated, stalking is a type of domestic violence. Examples of behavior that could amount to criminal stalking include:

• Showing up at the home or place of employment of another person without being invited
• Sending another person unwanted voicemails, emails, text messages or letters
• Sending another person unwanted gifts such as flowers
• Calling another person and hanging up
• Calling another person's employer or professor
• Spreading rumors about another person
• Tracking someone using GPS
• Tracking

Because domestic violence related stalking has become so prevalent New York police officers and prosecutors are particularly interested in arresting and prosecuting those who are accused of stalking their spouses, former spouses, or those who they are dating or once dated. Thus, if you have been charged with stalking stemming from a domestic violence incident it is important that you immediately contact an experienced Suffolk County Domestic Violence and Stalking Lawyer who will explain to you your legal rights and who will work closely with you to defend you against the charges.

• New York Criminal Lawyer
• N.Y. Penal Law and New York Domestic Violence Lawyer
• N.Y. Penal Law and Suffolk County Domestic Violence Lawyer
• N.Y. Penal Law and Suffolk County Domestic Violence against a Girlfriend
• N.Y. Penal Law and Suffolk County Domestic Violence against a Wife
• N.Y. Penal Law and Suffolk County Domestic Violence against a Child
• N.Y. Penal Law and Suffolk County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
• N.Y. Penal Law and Suffolk County Domestic Violence and Reckless Endangerment
• N.Y. Penal Law and Suffolk County Domestic Violence and Strangulation
• N.Y. Penal Law and Suffolk County Domestic Violence and Assault
• N.Y. Penal Law and Suffolk County Domestic Violence and Assault with a Knife
• N.Y. Penal Law and Suffolk County Domestic Violence and Assault with a Gun
• N.Y. Penal Law and Suffolk County Domestic Violence and Stalking
• N.Y. Penal Law and Suffolk County Domestic Violence and Menacing
• N.Y. Penal Law and Suffolk County Domestic Violence and Harassment
• N.Y. Penal Law and Suffolk County Order of Protection
• N.Y. Penal Law and Suffolk County Fight an Order of Protection
• N.Y. Penal Law and Suffolk County Domestic Violence Offense Sentencing

There are 4 stalking offenses in New York, 2 of which are misdemeanors and 2 of which are felonies. Stalking in the fourth degree and stalking in the third degree are misdemeanors. Stalking in the second degree and stalking in the first degree are felonies. Each stalking offense involves intentionally and repeatedly harassing another person to the extent that that person becomes alarmed and frightened.

Stalking in the fourth degree. You will face this charge if you intentionally and for no legitimate reason engage in a course of conduct directed toward a specific person such as your spouse, former spouse, girlfriend or former girlfriend. And you that that course of conduct

• Is likely to cause the victim to be fear that you will cause him or her physical harm, or physical harm to his or her family or acquaintances
• Is likely to cause the victim mental or emotion harm
• Is likely to cause the victim to fear that he or she may lose his or her job.

Stalking in the fourth degree is a Class B misdemeanor. N.Y. Pen. Law § 120.45. Conduct that can amount to stalking in the fourth degree includes following, tracking using GPS, telephoning, initiating communication after being told to stop, or appearing at the victim's place of business.

Stalking in the third degree. Stalking in the third degree is similar to stalking in the fourth degree. However, stalking in the third degree requires you to:

• Commit stalking in the fourth degree against at least 3 people on at least 3 separate occasions
• Commit stalking in the fourth degree and previously have been convicted of a specified predicate crime against the same victim or the victim's family including sexual misconduct, rape, criminal sexual act, sexual abuse, aggravated sexual abuse, incest, assault, menacing, or harassment.
• Harass or annoy someone in such a way that that person reasonably fear that you might cause that person physical injury, that you might commit a sex offense against that person, or that you might kidnap or kill that person.
• Commit stalking in the fourth degree after having been convicted of stalking in the fourth degree within the prior 10 years.

Stalking in the third degree is a Class A misdemeanor. N.Y. Pen. Law § 120.50

Stalking in the second degree. Stalking in the second degree has the same elements as stalking in the third degree as well as one of the following additional elements.

• Threatens to use a weapon such as a firearm, pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, machine gun, electronic dart gun, electronic stun gun, cane, sword, billy, blackjack, bludgeon, plastic knuckles, metal knuckles, chuka stick, sand bag, sandclub, slingshot, slungshot, shirken, "Kung Fu Star", dagger, dangerous knife, dirk, razor, stiletto, imitation pistol, dangerous instrument, deadly instrument or deadly weapon
• Commits the crime of stalking in the third degree and previously have been convicted of a specified predicate crime against the same victim or member of the victim's family including sexual misconduct, rape, criminal sexual act, sexual abuse, aggravated sexual abuse, incest, assault, menacing, or harassment.
• Commits the crime of stalking in the fourth degree and has previously been convicted of stalking in the third degree
• If you are at least 21 and repeated follows someone under the age of 14, or repeated engages in conduct that puts someone under the age of 14 in fear of physical injury.
• Commits the crime of stalking in the third degree against at least 10 people in at least 10 separate incidents.

Stalking in the second degree is a Class E felony. N.Y. Pen. Law § 120.55

Stalking in the first degree. You will have committed the crime of stalking in the first degree if in the course of committing the offense of stalking in the second or third degree you cause physical injury to the victim. Or, if in the course of committing the offense of stalking in the second or third degree you also commit the crime of rape in the third degree, rape in the second degree, criminal sexual act in the third degree, criminal sexual act in the second degree, or female genital mutilation. Stalking in the first degree is a Class D felony. N.Y. Pen. Law § 120.60

If you are convicted of a stalking crime, your sentence may include incarceration, a fine, restitution, probation or a combination of these punishments. Whether or not you are sent to jail depends largely on the seriousness of the crime of which you are convicted and your prior criminal record.

• Class B misdemeanor. The maximum possible sentence is 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.
• Class A misdemeanor. The maximum possible sentence is 1 year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
• Class E felony. The maximum possible sentence is 4 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
• Class D felony. The maximum possible sentence is 7 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

The amount of prison time you receive for a felony stalking conviction will also depend on whether or not you have been convicted of any felonies within the last 10 years. It will also depend on whether your prior conviction was for a violent felony or a non-violent felony. If you have been convicted of 2 or more felonies, you will be classified as a persistent felony offender. You will be given a harsh sentence, involving a minimum of several years in prison.

Part or all of your sentence may also include probation. For stalking in the third or fourth degrees, the probation term will be 3 years, while for stalking in the second or first degrees the probation term will be for 5 years. While probation is preferable to incarceration, probation has many restrictions. If you violate any of the terms of your probation you will have to appear before a judge at a revocation hearing. If after hearing evidence the judge concludes that you are in violation the judge could send you to prison. Whether or not the judge sends you to prison will largely depend on whether the violation was major or minor.

Domestic violence stalking cases almost always involve the criminal court judge issuing an Order of Protection in favor of the victim. The court will likely issue a temporary Order of Protection that may be a "stay away" Order of Protection, "refrain from" Order of Protection or a combination of both. If an Order of Protection is a stay away order, then you must not have any type of contact with that person. This means that you must:

• Not have any physical contact with the victim, even if the victim is your spouse, girlfriend, or parent of your child
• Stay away from the person's home, school or place of business
• Not call the person
• Not email or fax that person
• Not send that person letters
• Not send the person messages through other people
• Not send the person gifts or flowers

If there is a refrain from Order of Protection, then you are prohibited from harassing, intimidating, threatening or otherwise interfering with that person. While a criminal court Order of Protection that is issued at the beginning of a criminal case is generally temporary, depending on the outcome of the case, a temporary Order of Protection may become final or permanent-- meaning that it will remain in effect for several years. It the court concludes that there is no basis for the Order of Protection, it will be dismissed. If you believe that there is no basis for the order, you can fight it.

However, if an Order of Protection is in place and you violate it, you risk being charged with criminal contempt, a misdemeanor. As punishment you could be sentenced to jail or probation.

Beware that if you are arrested for stalking you may face additional criminal charges. Charges which commonly accompany stalking charges include assault, sexual assault, and reckless endangerment. Any additional charges could result in convictions for additional crimes. This would greatly impact the severity of your sentence.

Being convicted of a felony stalking will result in you having a criminal record. While your prison sentence, probation term will all end, and you will be able to pay off your financial obligations, a criminal record will remain with you for the rest of your life. Here are a few ways that having a criminal record will impact your life:

• Difficulty in finding a job, as many employers will resist hiring someone with a violent criminal past
• Barred from certain professions such as teaching, practicing law, driving a taxi, or being a security guard
• Ineligible for certain government benefits such as welfare and federally-funded housing
• If you are not a citizen you may be subject to deportation under federal law
• Barred from enrollment in some schools, or barred from living on campus at some schools
• Barred from serving on a jury
• Barred from owning a gun

Furthermore, being convicted of domestic violence stalking may permanently disrupt your family relationships if you are married to the victim or share children with the victim. For example, such a conviction may result in you losing custody of your children.

Being arrested for domestic violence based on stalking is very serious. Not only are you likely to send up in prison for a number of years, after you serve your prison term you will have a criminal record. As a result, many aspects of your life will be much more difficult. The staff at Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC has years of experience successfully defending clients in New York criminal courts who have been charged with domestic violence, stalking, as well as other criminal offenses such as assault, reckless endangerment, strangulation, menacing, and child endangerment. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We serve those accused of domestic violence in the following locations:

• New York City
• Queens
• Staten Island
• Suffolk County
• Westchester County