This is the next post in a series of articles discussing defending against stalking or harassment charges in Little Rock, Arkansas. Our previous article discussed how to respond after being served with a protective order. Too often, individuals who are faced with such situations fail to understand the potential consequences of such matters. Retaining the services of a defense attorney can help ensure that your interests are protected. This post will address how one should respond to false accusations of criminal stalking or harassment. To protect alleged victims, courts must take every accusation seriously. It is imperative, therefore, to defend against fabricated charges. An experienced criminal defense attorney will assist you in presenting your case. If you have been charged with stalking or harassment, contact our office today to speak with a lawyer.
For a variety of reasons, stalking and harassment charges are commonly based on exaggerated or fabricated reports of such behavior. For instance, an accuser may lie about an ex making threats after a nasty break-up or falsely report harassment by a co-worker after an unrelated disagreement. False charges of stalking or harassment are particularly common in the context of divorces or child custody disputes, where accusations are used to gain leverage over the other party. One party may believe that bringing false charges against their former partner will result in a more favorable custody order or property settlement. Whatever the motivation, the court must take the allegations seriously and will have no way of knowing that the charges are false unless the accused defends themself. It is imperative, therefore, to react quickly to fabricated accusations and vigorously defend against such claims. Failing to do so may result in criminal penalties, a prolonged legal process, or negatively impact ongoing divorce and child custody proceedings.
In many cases, those who have been falsely accused believe they can simply explain to the court that they have not engaged in stalking or harassing activities and that the charges will be dropped. Unfortunately, a simple explanation does not generally resolve the matter. First, as stated above, the court must assume the accusations are valid to protect potential victims from harm. This means that a temporary protective order may be issued almost immediately, even if based on falsified information. Once this occurs, failing to comply with the order can lead to additional criminal charges. Second, properly defending oneself generally requires presenting objective evidence in support of one’s position to the court. A defense attorney will understand how to quickly respond to the issuance of a protective order and assist you in identifying evidence that the claims are untrue. For instance, if you were working at the time the alleged incidents took place, statements from your employer or time card entries could be used to refute the allegations. Other information such as phone or text records, witness statements, or social media posts may be useful to prove the claims are false.
Whatever your circumstances, it is essential to take any false accusation of criminal behavior seriously. Retaining a criminal defense attorney can help ensure that your case is handled properly and quickly resolved. If you have been falsely accused of harassment or stalking and need assistance, then contact our office today to speak with a Little Rock criminal defense lawyer. In addition to Little Rock, we also handle matters in Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Springdale, Jonesboro, North Little Rock, Conway, Rogers, Pine Bluff, and throughout the rest of Arkansas.