RCW 9A.46.020 Definition — Penalties. |
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(1) A person is guilty of harassment if:
(a) Without
lawful authority, the person knowingly threatens:
(i) To cause bodily injury immediately or
in the future to the person threatened or to any other person; or
(ii) To cause physical damage
to the property of a person other than the actor; or
(iii) To subject the person threatened
or any other person to physical confinement or restraint; or
(iv) Maliciously to do any other
act which is intended to substantially harm the person threatened or another with respect to his or her physical or mental
health or safety; and
(b) The person by words or conduct places the person threatened in reasonable
fear that the threat will be carried out. "Words or conduct" includes, in addition to any other form of communication or conduct,
the sending of an electronic communication.
(2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection,
a person who harasses another is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
(b) A person who harasses
another is guilty of a class C felony if either of the following applies: (i) The person has previously been convicted in
this or any other state of any crime of harassment, as defined in RCW 9A.46.060, of the same victim or members of the victim's family or household or any person specifically
named in a no-contact or no-harassment order; or (ii) the person harasses another person under subsection (1)(a)(i) of this
section by threatening to kill the person threatened or any other person.
(3) The penalties
provided in this section for harassment do not preclude the victim from seeking any other remedy otherwise available under
law.
[2003 c 53 § 69; 1999 c 27 § 2; 1997 c 105 § 1; 1992 c 186 § 2; 1985 c 288 § 2.]