Legal Question in Criminal Law in Pennsylvania

disorderly conduct/harassment

If i have been sent a disorderly conduct/harassment citation non traffic offense , and my boyfriend has been the one communicating threats to hurt, abuse, and antagonize , taunt me if I don't meet him and I now have two police incident reports and charged him with harassment, and this would be considered a first offense . My boyfriend has emotional problems and always starts an argument and since this was outside his workplace area, but nothing more than a kick in the upper leg that seriously didn't injure him in any way. He has contacted me after and said he was sorry and other subsequent messages on vmail. Anyhow, the police officer contacted me and repeatedly asked me to give him a reason not to arrest me, I felt very intimidated but otherwise silent out of fear and my own rights, he asked if I had an attorney, I replied no (can't afford)and would this entail something serious?

If I pay the fine and not appear in court, would it go on my record? I am not employed at the moment and this would be devastating. He is the one harassing me.

If I plead not guilty, what then?

Will the court provide an attorney?

Can police reports help from another twp?

Is this a misdemeanor or just offe

Please help me, what should I do?

thx


Asked on 11/13/08, 9:49 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Michael Berman Law Offices of Michael A. Berman

Re: disorderly conduct/harassment

For minor offenses, you probably won't get a public defender assigned.

Any guilty plea goes on your record.

You really should a least meet with an attorney that provides a free, or low cost consult, for criminal cases. What District Justice do you have to see?

Feel free to write me back direct for more info....

Mike

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Answered on 11/14/08, 10:27 am
Charles A. Pascal, Jr. Law Office of Charles A. Pascal, Jr.

Re: disorderly conduct/harassment

These are summary offenses, not misdemeanors. Therefore, you are not entitled to have an attorney provided to you unless the judge intends to put you in jail, which is very unlikely in this case.

Any guilty plea goes on your record, but it's a summary, so it doesn't have that much of an effect on you.

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Answered on 11/14/08, 11:26 am


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