Blog

What to Do if You Are Wrongly Accused of Stalking

Posted by Joseph D. Lento | Sep 01, 2023 | 0 Comments

If someone has accused you of stalking, it can feel like more than a legal charge—it can feel like a black mark against your moral character. Stalking is a charge that carries a lot of weight in our society, especially in this current cultural moment. But these accusations are often not clear-cut, and false accusations of stalking happen more than you might think. Read on to learn more about what is involved in the legal charge of stalking, what to do if you're accused of stalking, and how Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Criminal Defense Team can help.

What Is Stalking?

“Stalking” is a word that people tend to use casually without really understanding its meaning. In New Jersey, it is defined as maintaining a “course of conduct” that would cause a “reasonable person” to fear for their safety or would cause significant emotional distress. This can include repeated attempts to keep someone close or in sight, following, monitoring, observing, threatening, communicating with someone, or repeatedly harassing them. Stalking usually takes place over multiple occasions. As you can see, stalking can involve a number of different actions, but the outcome is always that someone fears for their safety or experiences emotional distress.

If You Are Accused of Stalking

If you're wrongly accused of stalking in New Jersey, here are three steps you can take to protect yourself:

  • Do not contact your accuser. Being accused of stalking can make you want to defend yourself to the person who accused you. You may want to try to clear your name. Instead, the best thing to do is to try to avoid that person entirely. Don't contact them. Try to avoid places you know they frequent. Don't contact their family members or close friends. This will help you avoid doing something that could be interpreted as further evidence of stalking.
  • If you do need to have contact with your accuser, do it in a public place, with a neutral witness—or better yet, in a court or at a police station. This may feel overly formal, but it is the best way to protect yourself during this tense time and avoid doing anything that could be construed as further evidence of stalking. If you absolutely need to have contact with your accuser (for example, to get your property of yours returned or for child custody purposes), make sure you have a witness for your own protection.
  • Get an attorney. You need to take accusations of stalking seriously and take action to defend yourself. One of the best ways to do this is to get a lawyer. A lawyer will help you protect your rights when you talk to the police, develop a plan to present your side of the story and represent you in court.

Turn to the Lento Law Firm Team for Help

Being accused of stalking can have a major impact on your life. If you're facing these accusations, you need to take action to protect yourself. Turn to Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm's Criminal Defense Team for the representation and support you need to tell your side of the story to the police and in court. Our experienced criminal defense team has years of experience in the New Jersey criminal law system and can help you fight accusations of stalking. Get in touch with our office by calling (888) 535-3686 or schedule a consultation online.

About the Author

Joseph D. Lento

"I pride myself on having heart and driving hard to get results!" Attorney Joseph D. Lento passionately fights for the futures of his clients in criminal courtrooms in New Jersey and nationwide. He does not settle for the easiest outcome, and instead prioritizes his clients' needs and well-being. With unparalleled experience occupying several roles in the criminal justice system outside of being an attorney, Joseph D. Lento can give you valuable behind-the-scenes insight as to what is happening during all phases of the legal process. Joseph D. Lento is licensed in New Jersey and New York, and is admitted pro hac vice as needed nationwide. In the courtroom and in life, attorney Joseph D. Lento stands up when the bell rings!

Comments

There are no comments for this post. Be the first and Add your Comment below.

Leave a Comment

Comments have been disabled.

​​​Contact The Lento Law Firm Today

When it comes to criminal defense cases, you need the right person in your corner. To learn more about how Mr. Lento can help you, call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686. or contact him online.

This website was created only for general information purposes. It is not intended to be construed as legal advice for any situation. Only a direct consultation with a licensed Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York attorney can provide you with formal legal counsel based on the unique details surrounding your situation. The pages on this website may contain links and contact information for third party organizations - the Lento Law Firm does not necessarily endorse these organizations nor the materials contained on their website. In Pennsylvania, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout Pennsylvania's 67 counties, including, but not limited to Philadelphia, Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, and York County. In New Jersey, attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New Jersey's 21 counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren County, In New York, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New York's 62 counties. Outside of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, unless attorney Joseph D. Lento is admitted pro hac vice if needed, his assistance may not constitute legal advice or the practice of law. The decision to hire an attorney in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania counties, New Jersey, New York, or nationwide should not be made solely on the strength of an advertisement. We invite you to contact the Lento Law Firm directly to inquire about our specific qualifications and experience. Communicating with the Lento Law Firm by email, phone, or fax does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Lento Law Firm will serve as your official legal counsel upon a formal agreement from both parties. Any information sent to the Lento Law Firm before an attorney-client relationship is made is done on a non-confidential basis.

Menu