In Washington state, Stalking, like Harassment, can be either a felony or a gross misdemeanor. RCW 9A.46.110 is the Washington statute related to stalking. A gross misdemeanor stalking charge is punishable by up to 364 days in jail, a $5000 fine, and court ordered probation. Felony stalking in Washington state is a Class C felony, punishable by up to 5 years in jail and a $10,000 fine.
To meet the definition for a gross misdemeanor stalking, there needs to be evidence of harassment or that the following was intentional and occurred more than one time AND the victim had a reasonable fear that the defendant intended to injure him or damage his property AND the defendant knew or should have known that her behavior would create fear, intimidation or harassment, even if this was not her intent.
Felony stalking charges will be filed if the above gross misdemeanor conditions are met AND the following applies: there has been a prior conviction for harassing the victim or a member of the victim’s family or household; the stalking violates a protection order that protects the victim; the defendant has a prior conviction for stalking another person; the defendant was in possession of a deadly weapon during the stalking; the victim’s job is related to the legal system and the stalking was done in retaliation for an act done while in the official capacity of job duties; the victim is a witness in a court proceeding and the stalking was done in retaliation for witness testimony.
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of a criminal allegation (stalking or otherwise), immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Seattle Criminal Defense Attorney is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their criminal charge, and sometimes even get them dismissed. So, it should go without saying that someone cited for a criminal charge should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900.