Violating a protective order in Wagoner County is a fairly common crime. Often it involves a person who acts against the order due to revenge or anger purposes. For example, a the Choctaw man here in Oklahoma kidnapped his ex-wife from Broken Arrow after she filed a protective order against him. The man took her from her home and transported her to Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Authorities found the man and the victim in a hotel room. The woman had bruising but appeared to be in better than expected physical shape. Despite this unfortunate instance, protective orders can also be a bogus attempt to sway the court in a person’s favor. If you are facing a potential violation of a protective order, this article will explain in more detail the legal ramifications of a conviction.
Legal Punishments of Violating a Protective Order
Protective orders and stalking orders intend to protect a victim or potential victim from injury or other harm. Thus, violating a protective order is a punishable offense in Oklahoma. Violations are not always what they may seem. To illustrate, the obvious violations are physical or face-to-face contact with the person. However, less clear violations are harassing phone calls, texts messages, or messages over social media.
Oklahoma designates certain levels of penalties, in accordance with the severity of the violation. Below is a brief summary of each:
- First time violation without Physical Harm: This is a misdemeanor offense. It can result in a one year prison sentence and fines reaching $1,000.
- First time violation with Physical Harm: If the victim receives any type of injury or bodily harm, this offense is still a misdemeanor. However, jail time remains the same but fines can be up to $5,000 instead.
- Second Offenses: Repeat offenses of violating protective orders result in felony charges. You will now face up to 5 years imprisonment and fines up to $10,000.
Additionally, a person who files a protective order cannot be in violation of their own order. This means that if they try to contact you, that is not a free pass to respond. Do not fall for this trap, but instead reach out to a Wagoner County lawyer who can help you. They could potentially use this attempt to bait you into conversation as a means to dismiss the protective order against you.
Potential Treatment Programs
In addition to the criminal penalties above, you may also be subject to court-ordered treatment. These may be anger management programs, or programs related to substance abuse. You must complete the course in a year time frame. The court will review you progress after the completion of the program. In some cases, the court may find that it is necessary to place you under GPS monitoring. If so, you must pay all fees associated with the GPS.
For more important information visit our Wagoner County Attorneys Law Blog.
Our Wagoner County Protective Order Attorneys Can Help
It can sometimes be difficult to know what parameters you need to follow to avoid the violation of a protective order. If you have trouble understanding the boundaries a protective order places on you, give us a call. Our Wagoner County Attorneys understand the legal ramifications of violating a protective order and what it could cost you in court. Your first consultation is of no charge, so you can feel free to call us at 918-283-7394. If you have a quick legal question, reach out to us by Asking A Lawyer Here.
