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Aggravated Stalking in Fulton County, Georgia

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Aggravated Stalking in Fulton County, Georgia

By: Attorney Erin Dohnalek

In Georgia, aggravated stalking is charged as a felony. It is set out in O.C.G.A. § 16-5-91. This statute states that an individual commits aggravated stalking when:

  • He/she violates a “no contact” or “stay away” provision of their bond;
  • He/she violates a temporary restraining order, temporary protective order, permanent protective order, preliminary injunction, or permanent injunction ordering them to have no contact with the alleged victim;
  • He/she violates a “no contact” or “stay away” condition of their pretrial release, condition of probation, or condition of parole; and
  • The individual follows, places under surveillance, or contacts the alleged victim without his/her consent for the purpose of harassing and intimidating.

In Georgia, there is no requirement that the accused has to have actual notice of the “no contact” provision as a condition of bond, pretrial release, probation/ parole, or from a temporary protective order. The contact alone is enough, even if the accused was not aware of the “no contact” order. See Revere v. State, 277 Ga. App. 393 (2006). “Contact” can also be established by phone, email, or mail. It does not need to be in-person contact in order to be sufficient to convict for aggravated stalking. See Murden v. State, 258 Ga. App. 585 (2002).

Additionally, even if the alleged victim allowed contact, or initiated contact, after the “no contact” provision was ordered, that does not mean that an accused can no longer be prosecuted for aggravated stalking. An accused can be prosecuted if the alleged victim changes his/her mind, and decides that they no longer want contact with the accused, if at the time of the contact there is a “no contact” provision in place. See Revere v. State, 277 Ga. App. 393 (2006).

Finally, a single incident of stalking is not sufficient to convict an accused of aggravated stalking. There must be a pattern of harassing and intimidating conduct, and generally a single incident alone is not enough. See State v. Burke, 287 Ga. 377 (2010).

Sentencing:

Any individual convicted of this crime in Fulton County will be sentenced to 1-10 years in prison, and fined up to $10,000. However, the reduced charge of aggravated stalking is characterized as a “violation of a criminal protective order.” This charge is a misdemeanor and the sentencing is much less punitive. An experienced criminal defense attorney may be able to negotiate sentencing to fall under the misdemeanor statute.

Contact Us

Due to the severity of the punishment for aggravated stalking, it is of vital importance to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney about your case. At the Law Offices of W. Scott Smith, our lawyers are trained to know every aspect of this crime, we understand the defenses to the charge, we take pride in advocating for our clients’ constitutional rights, and we detail all options for our clients when defending their case. If you or a loved one has been charged with aggravated stalking in Fulton County, please call our office today at 404-581-0999 for a free consultation.

Aggravated Stalking

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By: Attorney Erin Dohnalek

In Georgia, aggravated stalking is charged as a felony. It is set out in O.C.G.A. § 16-5-91. This statute states that an individual commits aggravated stalking when:

  • He/she violates a “no contact” or “stay away” provision of their bond;
  • He/she violates a temporary restraining order, temporary protective order, permanent protective order, preliminary injunction, or permanent injunction ordering them to have no contact with the alleged victim;
  • He/she violates a “no contact” or “stay away” condition of their pretrial release, condition of probation, or condition of parole; and
  • The individual follows, places under surveillance, or contacts the alleged victim without his/her consent for the purpose of harassing and intimidating.

In Georgia, there is no requirement that the accused has to have actual notice of the “no contact” provision as a condition of bond, pretrial release, probation/ parole, or from a temporary protective order. The contact alone is enough, even if the accused was not aware of the “no contact” order. See Revere v. State, 277 Ga. App. 393 (2006). “Contact” can also be established by phone, email, or mail. It does not need to be in-person contact in order to be sufficient to convict for aggravated stalking. See Murden v. State, 258 Ga. App. 585 (2002).

Additionally, even if the alleged victim allowed contact, or initiated contact, after the “no contact” provision was ordered, that does not mean that an accused can no longer be prosecuted for aggravated stalking. An accused can be prosecuted if the alleged victim changes his/her mind, and decides that they no longer want contact with the accused, if at the time of the contact there is a “no contact” provision in place. See Revere v. State, 277 Ga. App. 393 (2006).

Finally, a single incident of stalking is not sufficient to convict an accused of aggravated stalking. There must be a pattern of harassing and intimidating conduct, and generally a single incident alone is not enough. See State v. Burke, 287 Ga. 377 (2010).

Sentencing:

Any individual convicted of this crime will be sentenced to 1-10 years in prison, and fined up to $10,000. However, the reduced charge of aggravated stalking is characterized as a “violation of a criminal protective order.” This charge is a misdemeanor and the sentencing is much less punitive. An experienced criminal defense attorney may be able to negotiate sentencing to fall under the misdemeanor statute.

Contact Us

Due to the severity of the punishment for aggravated stalking, it is of vital importance to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney about your case. At the Law Offices of W. Scott Smith, our lawyers are trained to know every aspect of this crime, we understand the defenses to the charge, we take pride in advocating for our clients’ constitutional rights, and we detail all options for our clients when defending their case. If you or a loved one has been charged with aggravated stalking, please call our office today at 404-581-0999 for a free consultation.

How do I get out of Clayton County Jail?

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I’ve Been Arrested…

You are in handcuffs and headed to the Clayton County Jail. You want to get out as soon as possible. Your loved ones are in a panic to find a lawyer to help get a bond set. The Clayton County jail is not a good place to be.

What do I do?

First, do not make any statements to the police while you are being transported to the Clayton County Jail.

Second, do not make any statements about the facts of your case to anyone at the Clayton County Jail. This is not the time to plead your innocence. Your sole focus should be on getting out on bond.

Do NOT talk on the jail phones about the case. All calls at the Clayton County jail are being recorded. Just focus on getting someone to help get you out of jail.

You will need to get paperwork filed with the DA’s office, on a serious felony, for them to pull the file and consider a consent bond.

When is my court date?

If you are arrested on a misdemeanor, you will go in front of a Magistrate Judge the following morning.

If you are arrested on a felony, you will go in front of a Magistrate Judge the following morning.

Your loved ones should plan on going to the Clayton County jail about 30 minutes before court starts. The jail is located at 9157 Tara Blvd, Jonesboro, Georgia 30236.

Can I get a bond?

The Clayton County Magistrate Judge is required to consider four factors when setting a bond.

  1. Poses no significant risk of fleeing from the jurisdiction of the court or failing to appear in court when required;
  2. Poses no significant threat or danger to any person, to the community, or to any property in the community;
  3. Poses no significant risk of committing any felony pending trial;
  4. Poses no significant risk of intimidating witnesses or otherwise obstructing the administration of justice.

Some crimes must go before a  Clayton Superior Court judge in order to have a bond set. If you are charged with any of these specific crimes in Clayton County then the Magistrate Judge cannot set a bond at your initial court appearance. All that will happen at this appearance, is the judge will read the warrants to you and reset your case.

The crimes that are only bondable by a Superior Court judge are as follows:

  1. Treason
  2. Murder
  3. Rape
  4. Aggravated Sodomy
  5. Armed Robbery
  6. Aircraft hijacking and hijacking a motor vehicle
  7. Aggravated Child Molestation
  8. Aggravated Sexual Battery
  9. Manufacturing, distributing, delivering, dispensing, administering, or selling any controlled substance classified under Code Section 16-13-25 as Schedule 1 or under Code Section 16-13-26 as Schedule II
  10. Violating Code Section 16-13-31 or 16-13-31.1
  11. Kidnapping, arson, aggravated assault, or burglary if the person, at the time of the alleged kidnapping, arson, aggravated assault, or burglary, had been previously convicted of, was on probation or parole with respect to, or was on bail for kidnapping, arson, aggravated assault, burglary, or one or more of the offenses listed above.
  12. Aggravated Stalking

For any of these crimes that are bondable only by a Clayton County Superior Court judge, you will get a court date that will be in the Clayton County Courthouse. The Clayton County Courthouse is located at 9151 Tara Blvd, Jonesboro, Georgia 30236.

What are the types of bonds?

There are several types of bonds available for your case.

  1. Released to Pretrial Services: Clayton County will sometimes release people on their own recognizance which means that you do not have to put up any money. You will be monitored by Clayton County Pretrial Services. You will have to report to Pretrial Services until your case gets resolved in court.
  2. Cash Bond: Another option in Clayton County is to pay a cash bond. This means that you pay the entire bond yourself. The benefit to this bond is that it is refundable to you once you resolve your case.
  3. Property Bond: Another option in Clayton County is to post a property bond. In order to post a property bond, you would need to speak to the Clayton Sheriff’s office. They generally will require a warranty deed, a current tax statement showing the property’s fair market value as well as a statement showing all taxes are current. You generally need double the bond amount in equity.
  4. Bail Bondsman: The final option is to call a bonding company. You will pay between 10% – 15% of the total bond to the bonding company. The bonding company will then post the entire bond and you will be released. This 10% – 15% is non-refundable. The Clayton County jail will provide you with a list of approved bonding companies.

If you or your loved one is arrested and taken to the Clayton County jail, please contact us any time and we can assist you in helping get a bond set.

Our office is located in downtown Atlanta at 100 Peachtree Street, Suite 2060, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. Feel free to call us at 404-581-0999 anytime day or night. Also, please go to our website at www.peachstatelawyer.com

Call us anytime 24/7. We will have an attorney at your bond hearing the following morning.

 

Stalking in Butts County

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If you have been arrested for stalking in Butts County, it is imperative that you fight your case. It is a serious crime in Georgia.

Stalking is when you follow, place under surveillance, or contact another person at or about a place without the consent of the other person for the purpose of harassing and intimidating the other person; OR if you are violation of a bond, order of the court, or condition of pretrial release, probation, or parole that prohibits the harassment or intimidation of another person, broadcasts or publishes without the person’s consent in such a manner that causes other persons to harass or intimidate that person and the person making the broadcast or publication knew or had reason to know that such act would cause the person to be harassed or intimidated by others. O.C.G.A. 16-5-90(a).

Aggravated Stalking is when in violation of a bond, order of the court, condition of pretrial release, probation, or parole in effect prohibiting the behavior described herein, follows, places under surveillance, or contacts another person at or about a place without the consent of the person for the purpose of harassing and intimidating the other person.

What are the elements of Aggravated Stalking:

  1. The defendant violated an order.
  2. This order prohibited contact with the victim.
  3. It was done without the victim’s consent
  4. The purpose was to harass or intimidate.

If # 4 is not met, then it is criminal contempt under O.C.G.A. 15-6-8(5).

Keep in mind, that proof of a written no contact order is not required. But there needs to be proof that the instruction was given and received by the defendant.

How do you define “contact” with the victim?

Contact is any communication, whether in person, by phone, by text, email , social media etc….

Where does the Stalking take place?

It includes any public or private property occupied by the victim, excluding the defendant’s residence, where the communication is received.

What is meant by Harassing and Intimidating Contact?

  1. A knowing and willful course of conduct directed specifically at the victim.
  2. The victim suffers emotional distress by placing such person in reasonable fear of their safety
  3. Establish a pattern of harassing and intimidating behavior. (There has to be more than 1 contact)
  4. There is no legitimate purpose to this contact.

What does the Court look for in determining whether the contact is harassing and intimidating?

  1. The prior history between the defendant and victim.
  2. Whether the contact is overly confrontational
  3. Any attempts by the defendant to contact, communicate, or control the victim through another party.

The behavior of the defendant does not have to include threats of death or bodily harm. The defendant does not even have to make overt threats to the victim in a Stalking case.

What is NOT Stalking?

Georgia law does not prohibit a person from contacting or communicating with another person without consent, if the contact is not done with a harassing or intimidating purpose.

What am I facing if I am convicted of Stalking or Aggravated Stalking?

  1. Stalking:
    1. The first conviction for stalking is a Misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 1 year in prison and a $1,000 fine
    2. A second conviction for Stalking is a felony and carries up to 1 to 10 years in prison.
  2. Aggravated Stalking
    1. Aggravated Stalking carries up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

If you are charged with Stalking or Aggravated Stalking in Butts County, it is important to get a lawyer as there are defenses to your case. A Stalking conviction on your record can carry many collateral consequences in addition to the punishment imposed by the court.

The courthouse is downtown Jackson, Georgia. We would be happy to assist you with your case in Butts County.

Call us at 404-581-0999 or visit us at www.peachstatelawyer.com for a free consultation.