My daughter was prank calling a man and he said he was going to report it to the police. So if he does what will the police do?
What are the federal or criminal consequences of prank calling?
My daughter was prank calling a man and he said he was going to report it to the police. So if he does what will the police do?
your daughter will be charged with harassing communications. If the man files a protective order and she calls again she will end up in jail.
They are going to GET you !!!!!!!!!!
How old is your daughter? In some states the blame may be placed on the parent.
Well, it depends a lot on the nature of the prank call. If it’s the old “olive oil in a bottle” call, than it’s basically a harassment type call. Still it can get her pulled into the juvenile justice system, which is never good.
It could result in your missing some work because if she’s a juvenile you’ll have to go into the police department with her to discuss the matter with the juvenile office.
The situation gets much more serious if she is making prank bomb threats, which are a felony in many states.
Most likely he was just irritated and didn’t call the police.
They wouldn’t likely follow up on a single incident of “Annoying Phone Calls.” It’d have to be more than one prank call.
Unless she, like, called the Chief or something…
Depends on what she was saying on the calls.
If you go into a movie theater and yell, “Man this movie stinks!” and they throw you out for disturbing the other movie goers. If you go into the same situation and yell, Fire!” you go to jail because you may have caused a panic and people could be injured trying to get to the exits.
If she was saying things that were threatening she could be looking at a charge of terroristic threat. Otherwise, she may be looking at Harassment.
Maybe the guy is just blowing off steam and won’t do anything if she leaves him alone. That could be arranged by your giving her a long list of stuff to keep her busy around the house instead of on the phone.
Good luck.
The common annoyance call (”Do you have Prince Albert in a can? You do? How does he breathe in there?”)… misdemeanor harassment at the worst. The punishment shouldn’t go much beyond public service.
A “prank call” that includes threats of violence, especially against people of minority races or homosexuals? **** crime time! I wouldn’t even begin to guess the penalty.
Sounds like we might be dealing with the common annoyance call. Most likely a stern lecture from the judge, if it even gets that far!
Your daughter may have just hit the big time,,,, Your telephone
is governed By the FCC. Meaning this can be handled
by the FBI or the Federal Communications Commission.
Which can refer that charges be filed by the Asst, US attorneys office. Explain to her,, this is very serious, and that
you as a parent can also be held liable, You might want her
to apologize and stop the prank calls.
Heres what I think she could be charged with/ what I would charge with (regarding PA Laws anyway)…
§ 5504. Harassment and stalking by communication or address.
(a) Harassment by communication or address.–A person commits the crime of harassment by communication or address when, with intent to harass, annoy or alarm another, the person:
communicates to or about such other person any lewd, lascivious, threatening or abscene words, language, drawings or caricatures; or
communicates repeatedly in an anonymous manner;
communicates repeatedly at extremely inconvenient hours; or
communicates repeatedly in a manner not covered by paragraph (2) or (3).
§ 2709. Harassment and stalking.
(a) Harassment.–A person commits the crime of harassment when, with intent to harass, annoy or alarm another, the person:
strikes, shoves, kicks or otherwise subjects the other person to physical contact, or attempts or threatens to do the same; or
follows the other person in or about a public place or places; or
engages in a course of conduct or repeatedly commits acts which serve no legitimate purpose.
(b) Stalking.–A person commits the crime of stalking when he engages in a course of conduct or repeatedly commits acts toward another person, including following the person without proper authority, under circumstances which demonstrate either of the following:
an intent to place the person in reasonable fear of bodily injury; or
an intent to cause substantial emotional distress to the person.
(a.1) Stalking by communication or address.–A person commits the crime of stalking by communication or address when the person engatges in a course of conduct or repeatedly communicates to another under circumstances which demonstrate or communicate either of the following:
An intent to place such other person in reasonable fear of bodily injury.
An intent to cause substantial emotional distress to such other person.