If you've been charged with a crime, there are several things you should and shouldn't do. For example, to defend yourself, you need consult a criminal defense counsel. You should avoid doing anything that would make a witness feel threatened.

While certain acts of intimidation are obvious, there are others that you may do without understanding are prohibited. Continue reading to discover more about witness intimidation, and then call the Law Office of Michael L. Fell for a free legal consultation at (949) 585-9055.

Intimidation of witnesses: Examples

Witness intimidation would occur if a defendant sent an article to the person who accused them about another witness who vanished after testifying. Witness intimidation occurs when a suspect is suspected of robbery and threatens the victim with "terrible things" if the authorities find out. Witness intimidation occurs when a person accused of assault offers their victim money in return for not reporting or testifying against them.

Intimidating a witness is defined as

To establish their case, the prosecutor must show that all of the following factors are present:

• The defendant behaved intentionally and knowingly
• The defendant attempted to keep the victim from doing one of the following things
  • Attending a court hearing or a witness testimony
  • Reporting a crime to the police or the District Attorney
  • Assisting in the arrest

A person must be a "possible witness" if they know information about the crime, if their testimony will be used as evidence, if they have reported the case, or if they have been issued with a subpoena.

Intimidation of witnesses can be charged as a felony or a misdemeanor

Depending on the facts of the case and the defendant's criminal background, a person accused with witness intimidation might face a felony or misdemeanor penalty. They may spend up to a year in jail and pay fines of up to $1,000 if convicted of a misdemeanor. They might face a sentence of 16 months to four years in jail and a maximum fine of $10,000 if convicted of a crime.

It's critical to speak with your criminal defense attorney if you've been charged of witness intimidation. Now is the moment to get an attorney if you don't already have one. To schedule a free legal consultation, call Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055. We'll put our many years of expertise to work for you to guarantee you get the finest legal counsel available.