Everyone probably knows that harassment can get you fired in any workplace in Maryland. You may not know that harassment is also a crime. The crime is defined and punished by Maryland Criminal Code, §3–803. The section states that:

(a) A person may not follow another in or about a public place OR maliciously engage in a course of conduct that alarms or seriously annoys the other:

(1) with the intent to harass, alarm, or annoy the other;

(2) after receiving a reasonable warning or request to stop by or on behalf of the other; and

(3) without a legal purpose

The first part of the statute applies to any behavior that is similar to stalking or spying on anyone involving a public space (like a street, store, festival, etc.). That part of the statute is unlikely to apply to a workplace. However, the second part — malicious course of conduct that alarms or annoys — can apply to a workspace. Thus, as noted, harassment can get you fired and might get you arrested and charged with a crime. If you have been arrested or charged with harassment, contact us here at the Law Office of Robert Castro. Call us at (301) 870-1200 or use our contact page. We are available around the clock, 24/7. We are tough and tenacious Maryland criminal defense attorneys with offices in Waldorf, Maryland.

If you are convicted of the crime of harassment, you face a sentence of imprisonment for up to 90 days, a fine of up to $500, or both. For a second offense (or subsequent), the jail time can be as much as 180 days, a fine of $1,000, or both.

Cyberharassment

Harassment via the internet and/or social media is also a crime. See Md. Crim. Code, §3–805(b). Cyberharassment is essentially the same as the crime of harassment described above, except that the “following” of another person is done via the internet, social media, or other electronic means. See §3–805(b)(1). If convicted, the punishments can be up to three years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

Note that Section 3-805 also criminalizes many other malicious uses of the internet and social media. The statute is generally called “Grace’s Law,” which was enacted to prevent cyberbullying and severely punish cyberbullying that causes bodily harm, severe emotional distress, or causes a victim to commit suicide.

Telephone Harassment

It is also a crime in Maryland to engage in harassment via telephone. See Md. Crim. Code, §3–804. There are three types of conduct that constitute telephone harassment. These are:

• Making anonymous calls reasonably expected to annoy, abuse, torment, harass, or embarrass another
• Making repeated calls with the intent to annoy, abuse, torment, harass, or embarrass another OR
• Making a comment, request, suggestion, or proposal that is obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, or indecent

If convicted, the accused faces up to three years imprisonment, a fine of up to $500, or both.

Contact Waldorf, Maryland Criminal Defense Lawyer Robert Castro Today

This article has been provided by the Law Office of Robert Castro. For more information or questions, contact our office to speak to an experienced Maryland criminal defense lawyer at (301) 870-1200. We are Waldorf, MD, Criminal Defense lawyers. Our address is 2670 Crain Highway, Waldorf, MD 20601.