Experienced New York Criminal Contempt Defense Attorney

Criminal contempt charges typically emerge from the violation of a court order. A person can be charged with criminal contempt in the first degree (a Class E felony) for violating an Order of Protection. Orders of Protection either direct a person to stay away from another individual and have absolutely no contact with them (known as a stay away order of protection), or, the other kind is a Do Not Harass or Refrain from Harassment Order of Protection, which will allow contact between the parties, but intends to keep people from harassing each other or committing any act which is otherwise illegal. The following can constitute a violation of an Order of Protection:

• Placing the protected person in reasonable fear of physical injury or death by displaying a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument
• Placing the protected person in reasonable fear of physical injury or death by repeatedly following a person or engaging in a repeated course of conduct
• Placing the protected person in reasonable fear of physical injury or death through all forms of communication, including threatening or harassing e-mail, phone calls, mail, or other forms of written or electronic communication
• Intending to harass, annoy, threaten or alarm the protected person through repeated phone calls, whether or not conversation ensues, where calls are made for no legitimate purpose
• Intending to harass, annoy, threaten or alarm the protected person through physical contactor attempts at physical contact
• Physically placing or attempting to place the protected person in fear of injury or death

Other forms of criminal contempt include:

• Menacing
• Stalking
• Harassment
• Aggravated harassment
• Disrupting a court proceeding
• Violating child support payment orders
• Violating other court orders

Domestic violence, aggravated harassment and criminal contempt charges can adversely impact your future, your freedom and your reputation. You should immediately retain the services of a skilled criminal defense attorney who has experience with domestic violence-related crimes.