by AndersonsInfo 71 Replies latest watchtower scandals
Local legend has it that a whole body of elders was removed because they beat up a Brother who'd bonked some bird at the Kingdum Hell or something. The point being, there is a fine line between passive aggression and a smack in the gob.
Anyway, I'm hoping that the 'hate crime' comment made about Barbara is just hot air.
It's a shame this wasn't in the UK. The UK laws don't tolerate this zealotry......no matter what religion or political persuasion!
BARBARA A: Please be careful! Regards.
Last update: January 26, 2011
PLEASE NOTE: The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) serves state legislators and their staff. This site provides comparative information only and should not be construed as legal advice. NCSL cannot provide assistance with individual cases.
Many states have enacted "cyberstalking" or "cyberharassment" laws or have laws that explicitly include electronic forms of communication within more traditional stalking or harassment laws. In addition, recent concerns about protecting minors from online bullying or harassment have led states to enact "cyberbullying" laws. This chart identifies only state laws that include specific references to electronic communication. However, other state laws may still apply to those who harass, threaten or bully others online, although specific language may make the laws easier to enforce. This chart classifies the various state laws addressing these three different types of online behaviors, as described below.
Cyberstalking. Cyberstalking is the use of the Internet, email or other electronic communications to stalk, and generally refers to a pattern of threatening or malicious behaviors. Cyberstalking may be considered the most dangerous of the three types of Internet harassment, based on a posing credible threat of harm. Sanctions range from misdemeanors to felonies.
Cyberharassment. Cyberharassment differs from cyberstalking in that it is generally defined as not involving a credible threat. Cyberharassment usually pertains to threatening or harassing email messages, instant messages, or to blog entries or websites dedicated solely to tormenting an individual. Some states approach cyberharrassment by including language addressing electronic communications in general harassment statutes, while others have created stand-alone cyberharassment statutes.
Cyberbullying. Cyberbullying and cyberharassment are sometimes used interchangeably, but for the purposes of this chart, cyberbullying is used for electronic harassment or bullying among minors within a school context. Recent cyberbullying legislation reflects a trend of makaing school districts the policy enforcers of such misconduct. As a result, statutes establish the infrastructure for schools to handle this issue by amending existing school anti-bullying policies to include cyberbullying or electronic harassment among school age children. The majority of these state laws establish sanctions for all forms of cyberbullying on school property, school busses and official school functions. However, some have also extended sanctions to include cyberbullying activities that originate off-campus, believing that activities off-campus can have a chilling and disruptive effect on children's learning environment. The sanctions for cyberbullying range from school/parent interventions to misdemeanors and felonies with detention, suspension, and expulsion in between. Some of these laws promote Internet safety education or curricula that covers cyberbullying.
See also: Additional NCSL cyberbullying resources, state laws related to electronic solicitation or luring of children, Internet filtering laws--schools and libraries, and NCSL LegisBrief: Protecting Children Online.
State/Territory | Cyberstalking | Cyberharassment | Cyberbullying |
Alabama | Ala. Code § 13A-11-8 | Ala. Code § 16-28B-3(2) | |
Alaska | Alaska Stat. §§ 11.41.260, 11.41.270 | ||
Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-2921 | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § | |
Arkansas | Ark. Code § 5-41-108 | Ark. Code § 5-41-108 | Ark. Code §§ 5-71-217, 6-18-514 |
California | Cal. Penal Code §§ 422, 653.2, 653m | Cal. Ed. Code §§ 32261, 32265, 32270,48900 | |
Colorado | Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 18-602 , 18-9-111 | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-9-111 | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 22-32-109.1 (2)(a)(X) |
Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-182b, 53a-183 | ||
Delaware | Del. Code tit. 11 § 1311 | Del. Code tit. 14 § 4112D | |
Florida | Fla. Stat. § 784.048 | Fla. Stat. § 784.048 | Fla. Stat. § 1006.147 |
Georgia | Georgia Code § 16-5-90 | Georgia Code § 20-2-751.4 | |
Hawaii | Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 711-1106 | ||
| Idaho | Idaho Stat. §§ 18-7905, 18-7906 | Idaho Stat. § 18-917A | |
Illinois | 720 ILCS §§ 135/1-2, 135/1-3,135/2 | 105 ILCS §§ 5/27-13.3 | |
Indiana | Ind. Code § 35-45-2-2 | ||
Iowa | Iowa Code § 708.7 | Iowa Code § 208.28 | |
Kansas | Kan. Stat. § 21-3438 | Kan. Stat. § 72-8256 | |
| Kentucky | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 525.080(1)(c) | ||
Louisiana | La. Rev. Stat. §§ 14:40.2, 14:40.7, 17:416.13, Children's Code Art. 730(11) | ||
Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. tit 17A § 210A (see 2007 Me. Laws, Ch. 685, sec. 3) | ||
Maryland | Md. Code tit. 3 § 3-805 | Md. Code, Ed. Law § 7-424, 7-424.1 | |
Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 265 § 43 | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 265 § 43A | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 71 § 370 |
Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.411s | ||
Minnesota | Minn. Stat. § 609.749 | Minn. Stat. § 609.795 | Minn. Stat. § 121A.0695 |
Mississippi | Miss. Code § 97-29-45 | Miss. Code §§ 37-11-67, 37-11-69 | |
Missouri | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 565.225 | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 565.090 | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 160.775 |
Montana | Mont. Code Ann. § 45-5-220 | Mont. Code Ann. § 45-8-213 | |
| Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-2,137 | ||
Nevada | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 200.575 | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 392.915 | |
New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. § 644:4 | N.H. Rev. Stat. §§ 193-F:2 et seq. | |
| New Jersey | N.J. Stat. § 2C:12-10, 2C:12-10.1 * | 2010 A.B. 3466, P.L. 2010, Ch. 122, N.J. Stat. §§ 18A:37-14, 18A:37-15.1 | |
| New Mexico | N.M. Stat. § 30-3A-3 * | ||
New York | New York Penal Law § 240.30 | New York Education Law § 814 | |
North Carolina | N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 14-196.3 | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-196(b) | N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 14-458.1, 115C-407.15-17 |
North Dakota | N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-17-07 | ||
Ohio | Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.211 | Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2917.21(A),2913.01(Y) | |
Oklahoma | Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1173 | Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1172 | Okla. Stat. tit. 70 § 24-100.4 |
Oregon | Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 163.730 to 163.732 | Or. Rev. Stat. § 166.065 | Or. Rev. Stat. § 339.351 et seq. |
Pennsylvania | Pa. Cons. Stat. tit. § 18 2709.1 | Pa. Cons. Stat. tit. 18 § 2709(a), 2709(f) | 24 P.S. § 13-1303.1-A |
Rhode Island | R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-52-4.2 | R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-52-4.2 | R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-26 |
South Carolina | S.C. Code §§ 16-3-1700(C), 16-3-1700(F) | S.C. Code §§ 16-3-1700(B), 16-3-1700(C), 16-17-430 | S.C. Code §§ 59-63-110 to 59-63-150 |
South Dakota | S.D. Cod. Laws § 22-19A-1 | S.D. Cod. Laws § 49-31-31 | |
Tennessee | Tenn. Code § 39-17-315 | Tenn. Code § 39-17-308 | |
Texas | Tx. Penal Code § 33.07 | ||
Utah | Utah Code § 76-5-106.5 | Utah Code § 76-9-201 | Utah Code § 76-9-201 |
Vermont | Vt. Stat. tit. 13 § 1027 | ||
Virginia | Va. Code § 18.2-60 | Va. Code § 18.2-152.7:1 | Va. Code § 22.1-279.6 |
Washington | Wash. Rev. Code §§ 9A.46.110 , 9.61.260 | Wash. Rev. Code §§ 9A.46.020 , 10.14.020 | Wash. Rev. Code § 28A.300.285 |
West Virginia | W. Va. Code § 61-3C-14a | ||
Wisconsin | Wis. Stat. § 947.0125 | ||
Wyoming | Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-506 | Wyo. Stat. §§ 21-4-311 to 21-4-315 | |
Territories: | |||
| Guam | X.G.C.A. tit. 9 §§ 19.69, 19.70 | X.G.C.A. tit. 9 §§ 19.69, 19.70 |
* Statute does not specify "electronic" or "Internet," but refers to stalking "by any action, method, device or means...." [emphasis added]
PLEASE NOTE: The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) serves state legislators and their staff. This site provides comparative information only and should not be construed as legal advice. NCSL cannot provide assistance with individual cases.
Harassment is an act that is punishable by jail time. You may be facing this serious conviction if you intentionally:
1) Threaten to take illegal action against someone and by doing so place them in fear or annoys them;
2) Place harassing phone calls to someone and the calls cause fear or annoyance; or
3) Tell someone that a relative or other person has been injured or killed when you know this to be untrue.
Typically, harassment is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and fines up to $2,500.
If, however, you were previously convicted of an offense and the harassing behavior is against the same victim, the charge is elevated to a Class E felony which is punishable by 1-6 years in prison.
Ref: TCA 39-17-308
Stalking laws came about in the 1990s. Initially stalking laws were written in response to behavior committed against the famous. Now, however, they apply to everyone.
Stalking is defined by Tennessee law as willful conduct involving repeated harassment of someone that causes them to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed or molested.
Typically stalking is charged as a Class A misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 1 year in jail and fines up to $2,500. However, in some situations, stalking is a felony offense.
If any of the following apply you could be charged with a Class E felony,punishable by 1 to 6 years in prison:
Especially aggravated stalking is a Class C felony and the most serious of all stalking and harassment offenses. This felony is punishable by 3-15 years in prison. If any of the following apply to the offense, you could be charged with especially aggravated stalking:
With any stalking charge you may be ordered to obtain counseling, undergo treatment, and be on house arrest whether you are sentenced to probation or released early from prison.
Ref: TCA 39-17-315
Remember, cults become more extreme over time. Especially when failed predictions and faults become more known. The leadership tightens the noose on the followers, and ups the rhetoric. Becuase you are making the faults known, the Watchtower tries to make the apostates as enemy #1. This is alot like Nazi Germany, where the government had to make propaganda against the Jews so as to make it easier to justify the mass killing. And, so the Watchtower is making apostates the villians. As such, it only takes one crazed Jehovah's Witness to shoot.
I think this statement from page one bears repeating.
Thanks for all you do, Barbara. Stay safe. They're fighting a losing battle and somewhere deep inside they know it. They're all full of pent-up frustration.
Terrorist threat charges can also occur with threats to the government or any school, public officer or emergency service organization as well as those directed as particular private individuals. Stalking, harassment and public misconduct and also result in terrorist threat charges.
Terrorist Threat PenaltiesTerrorist threat charges can result in several different possible penalties, typically depending on the circumstances of the threat and any prior history of terrorist threats as well as violence or criminal charges. Many courts will also order anger management or violence prevention classes for the individuals charged with these crimes.
Courts will look at several factors when considering sentencing for terrorist threat charges. Generally the history of the individual, any mitigating circumstances as well as the severity of the threat and the ability of the individual to carry it out will all be taken into consideration. Since often a terrorist threat, especially in cases of individual to individual threats is basically a he said she said type testimony, judges will also take the prior relationship into consideration. An attorney can help in presenting all the facts as well as the intent of the statement which can help in getting the charges reduced or even the case dismissed with alternative sentencing options.
Getting legal help immediately for terrorist threat charges is essential. These charges, while misdemeanors, can have a serious impact on employment and may even result in the loss of current work. Since an attorney can help defend the intentions of the statement or even get the case dropped under certain circumstances it is well worth the small cost.
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| State | Avg. Fines | Avg. Jail | Avg. Probation | Other |
| Alabama | 250000 | 2-6 years | 3 months | community service |
| Alaska | 1000 | Upto 7 years | Varies by Case | |
| Arizona | $1000-2000 | Upto 3 years | Varies by Case | |
| Arkansas | $1000 to $5000 | 40 years | 1 year | community service |
| California | $10,000-$100,000 | 1 year-5 years | up to 5 years | Judge may order counseling and/or community service and/or take away the right to bear arms. |
| Colorado | $10,000-$100,000 | 1 year to 5 years | up to 5 years | Judge may order community service and/or counseling and/or the right to bear arms. |
| Connecticut | 50000 | 41 months | 6 months | community service |
| Delaware | $0-500 | 33 years | 2 months | community service |
| District of Columbia | Varies by Case | Varies by Case | Varies by Case | Prison time,Loss of Constitutional rights (right to vote or own a deadly weapon),Parole or probation,Rehabilitation and Hefty fines |
| Florida | $200 to $2,000 | In Florida, a terrorist or criminal threat may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending upon the severeness of the threat and its aftermath as well as the discretion of the prosecutor. The punishment will vary accordingly and may include prison time, prison time, parole or probation, and large fines; and you may lose your right to vote or own a gun. | Varies by Case | Felony: In Florida a terrorist or criminal threat is punishable by up to three years in state prison. Criminal or terrorist threats are deemed a “strike†under Florida ’s Three Strikes Law. |
| Georgia | up to $100,000 | 1-10 years | up to 3 years | Judge may order restitution, counseling and/or the right to vote. |
| Hawaii | 250000 | up to 15 years | Varies by Case | |
| Idaho | maximum fine $100000 | upto 27 years | Varies by Case | |
| Illinois | $10,000-$100,000 | up to 10 years | up to 5 years | Judge may order counseling and/or loss of the right to bear arms. |
| Indiana | Varies by Case | Varies by Case | Varies by Case | Prison time,Loss of Constitutional rights (right to vote or own a deadly weapon),Parole or probation,Rehabilitation,Hefty fines |
| Iowa | Varies by Case | Varies by Case | Varies by Case | Prison time,Loss of Constitutional rights (right to vote or own a deadly weapon),Parole or probation,Rehabilitation,Hefty fines |
| Kansas | $10,000-$250,000 | 1 year - 25 years | up to 5 years | May include loss of constitutional rights (right to vote and to bear arms). May also include rehabilitation. |
| Kentucky | $0-500 | 0-10 years | Varies by Case | Possible loss of constitutional rights |
| Louisiana | 15000 | five years | Varies by Case | |
| Maine | $10,000-$100,000 | 1 year-15 years | up to 3 years | Judge may order counseling and/or take away the right to bear arms. |
| Maryland | $ 2000 -$10000 | upto 7 years in prison | 2 years probation | |
| Massachusetts | 1000$ | 25 years | 1 year | |
| Michigan | 100000 | 20 years | two years | community service |
| Minnesota | $250-100,000 | upto 5 years | 1-3 years | |
| Mississippi | $3,000-100,000 | upto 2 years | 5-36 months | |
| Missouri | 2000 | 3 years | Federal prison | |
| Montana | 100000 | 10-60 years | 3-5 years | community service,suspended license |
| Nebraska | $10,000-$250,000 | 1 year-15 years | up to 5 years | Judge may order counseling and/or restitution and/or loss of some constitutional rights. |
| Nevada | $500-75,000 . | 7-17 years. | 2-3 years | |
| New Hampshire | 2500 | 1-10 years | 1-2 years | community service |
| New Jersey | uo to $75,000 | 3-5 years in prison | Varies by Case | If it occurs during a national/state emergency, fine increases to $250,000 and jail time doubles for 2nd degree offense |
| New Mexico | upto $4 million | Varies by Case | Varies by Case | |
| New York | Varies by Case | over 100 years in jail | Varies by Case | First WTC trial. Here the evidence was almost entirely circumstantial. There was no eyewitness to identify any of the first four defendants who were apprehended and tried; no insiders to testify; no defendants confessed or testified. But there was the vehicle identification number plate found early on in the bombing rubble which pointed to a particular Ryder van that had been rented in New Jersey. And there were fingerprints, phone records, Ryder truck rental forms, bombing manuals, and chemical residues found in incriminating places, and even identifiable DNA from one defendant's saliva left on an envelope containing a letter sent to The New York Times claiming credit for the bombing. Once put together in summation, all of these bits and pieces added up to a very powerful case to present to the jury, which convicted all of the defendants on all counts. All four of the defendants tried were convicted on March 4, 1994, and sentenced to over 100 years in jail without the possibility of parole. (At the time of the WTC bombing, there was no applicable federal death penalty.) The convictions were Affirmed by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals on August 4, 1998.4 |
| North Carolina | $5,000-$20,000 | up to 5 years | up to 3 years | Judge may order lose of rights (right to vote) and/or loss of right to posess a weapon. |
| North Dakota | $10,000-$100,000 | 1 year to 5 years | up to 5 years | Judge may order restitution and/or counseling. |
| Ohio | $10,000-$100,000 | up to 15 years | up to 5 years | Judge may order counseling and/or restitution and or take away the right to bear arms. |
| Oklahoma | 350000000 | 2 years | 3 months-5 year | community service |
| Oregon | $5.000-250.000 | upto 6 months | upto 2 years | 100 hours of community service |
| Pennsylvania | Varies by Case | Varies by Case | Varies by Case | Prison time,Loss of Constitutional rights (right to vote or own a deadly weapon),Parole or probation,Rehabilitation,Hefty fines |
| Rhode Island | up to $250,000 | up to 5 years | up to 5 years | Judge may order loss of constitutional rights. |
| South Carolina | $1,00,000-1,00,00,000. | 12-30 years. | 1-3 years. | |
| South Dakota | $0-$25,000 | 0-10 years | 60 months | possible deportation if non-citizen |
| Tennessee | up to $25,000 | 1-10 years | up to 3 years | May be ordered counseling and/or house arrest following parole. Judge may also take the right to bear arms. |
| Texas | $152-4.5million | upto 20 years | 1-30 years | |
| Utah | $5,000-2,50,000. | 2-6 years. | 2-5years. | |
| Vermont | 250000 | up to 20 years | Varies by Case | |
| Virginia | $20,000-2,50,000. | 6-17months. | 1-5 years. | |
| Washington | $10,000-$100,000 | 1 year-15 years | up to 5 years | Judge may order restitution and/or counseling. |
| West Virginia | $10,000-2,50,000. | 11-16 years | 2-4 years | |
| Wisconsin | Varies by Case | Up to seven (7) years | Varies by Case |
As you see, there are a few laws that could have been broken . . . from terroristic threat to harrassment to cyber crimes. These laws are in all 50 states, and because Barbara is resident of Tennesse . . . I think she should be protected by Tennessee laws. Even if this man who is making the threat lives in another state, that state likely has laws that also prohiibit him from threatening her. This is why I say to call the local police. You will have a complaint on file and they will be better able to issue restraining orders and warrents if you start building the trail now. Don't take offense, but you are the perfect grandma and the police have a duty to protect you.
Skeeter
Please be safe Barbara. Thank you for all you have done & stil do.
Barb, I'm sorry to hear this. I wish you the best.
To all posters on JWN, we need to remember not to be guilty of the same type of aggressive, hateful, violent speech. There are posters here who, for whatever reasons, say some incredibly offensive and shockingly aggressive things against JWs and the WT Org on this board. JWs and ExJWs are both getting attention right now. The spotlight is going to be directed at both camps. This is where we need to be better. Yes, many of us have been hurt. Yes, our frustration and anger may be validated. But let's try to take the higher road. Let's not live up to the ridiculous stereotype that the WT has created for ExJWs. Let's not scare off those curious folks, JWs and nonJWs alike, who may be drawn to this site after hearing of the recent buzz in the media.
What happened to " vengeance is mine, I shall repay saith the Lord". What he do, give these guys his checkbook?
