I've been charged with criminal threat. Is this serious?

Criminal threatening is a crime under California Penal Code Section 422. Several defenses may be available to the defendant who is charged with criminal threatening.

Criminal Threat Charges - Penal Code Section 422

California Penal Code Section 422 states:

Any person who willfully threatens to commit a crime which will result in death or great bodily injury to another person, with the specific intent that the statement, made verbally, in writing, or by means of an electronic communication device, is to be taken as a threat, even if there is no intent of actually carrying it out, which, on its face and under the circumstances in which it is made, is so unequivocal, unconditional, immediate, and specific as to convey to the person threatened, a gravity of purpose and an immediate prospect of execution of the threat, and thereby causes that person reasonably to be in sustained fear for his or her own safety or for his or her immediate family's safety, shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one year, or by imprisonment in state prison.

Getting Legal Help

A criminal defense attorney can use a number of methods to defend you against criminal threat charges in California. It is a good idea to contact a criminal defense attorney sooner rather than later to help preserve evidence in your case and help it move along quickly.