Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

What are the legal consequences for this?

-My boyfriend's mother, who had been very welcoming of me for the past year, has been blaming me for the recent leave of her son. I am living on campus at a nearby university and my boyfriend has moved out of his house for the past 2 weeks, and I have been letting him stay with me until he finds his own place. His mother refuses to accept the fact that he left his family because of them. She, instead, accuses me of "pulling him away" and basically forcing him to leave his home. Today, I received a text message from her, explaining that I must convince him to come back home within the time limit of 2 days. If I do not comply or my attempts fail to bring him back, she will seek out my home and reveal negative things about me to my conservative parents (i.e. sleeping over at the house, smoking marijuana, living with a boyfriend in my dorm, etc.) I responded to this by saying "Do not threaten me. Blackmailing is illegal in this country, and I will save your message." Truth be told, I have no idea what I could do..


Asked on 10/29/10, 6:09 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Michael Stone Law Offices of Michael B. Stone Toll Free 1-855-USE-MIKE

You get a "B" for your response, not because you weren't 100% correct, which you are, but because crazy adversaries should always be encouraged to leave their threats and other crazy messages on voice mail and email and text messaging, where the messages are admissible evidence in court if need be. Tipping her off that you are saving her messages will just drive her behavior underground.

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Answered on 11/03/10, 6:16 pm
Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

Your boyfriend's mother is committing (or at least attempting) extortion. And if her son is an adult, he had every right to move out of her home no matter how she feels about his decision.

I suggest reporting her to the local police now, before she makes good on her threats. Tell them the story and show them the text message. They will probably have a conversation with her about all the bad things that might happen to her if she carries out her threats when she has already left such good evidence for prosecutors to use.

But DO NOT threaten that you will do this unless she backs off. If you do that then you will also be committing (or at least attempting) extortion.

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Answered on 11/03/10, 6:22 pm


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