Communicating Threats
Communicating threats is a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by a maximum jail sentence of 120 days active. A person is guilty of this crime if he or she willfully threatens to injure the victim, the victim’s child, sibling, spouse, or property. The threat can be communicated orally, in writing, by email, or through another person. The threat has to be made so that a reasonable person would likely believe that the threat is likely to be carried out, and the actual victim has to believe that the threat will be carried out.
Because domestic violence cases frequently involve large amounts of a mixture of jealousy, rage, and love, communicating threats is a very popular crime that people are charged with in domestic violence court. It is absolutely no defense that the spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend is in the wrong or cheating in the relationship.
Henry is having an affair with Janice. His wife Karen soon finds out about the relationship. Henry has been coming home early in the morning frequently and sometimes does not come home at all. Karen finally tells Henry that she will destroy his television if he does not stop seeing Janice. She even picks up a bat and shows him that she will smash his television if he does not stop going over to Janice’s apartment. Henry is terrified and calls the police. Karen is quickly arrested and charged with communicating threats.