Q: Estranged relative is threatening to press charges over reconciliation attempts
My younger brother has been estranged for close to 8 years. He is threatening to sue/press charges against me for sending occasional emails and text messages (usually 2-3 times a year) to check on him and ask him to reconcile. (Note: There is absolutely nothing aggressive or threatening in my communication attempts. We had a falling out years ago over something trivial.)
My brother and I both live in Texas. Does he truly have grounds to press charges and possibly send me to jail? I have two young children and at this point do not wish to jeopardize my ability to care for them over trying to make amends with my brother. Any insight or advice would be greatly appreciated.
"I want absolutely nothing to do with you psychopaths and have made that extremely clear and without misinterpretation on numerous occasions and can prove this. Since you refuse to leave me alone and seek to provoke, harass, and stalk me, I will be pressing charges."
A:
Yes, sending unwanted electronic communication is one of the ways to commit misdemeanor Harassment ... and committing Harassment on more than one occasion is one of the ways to commit felony Stalking.
Whether or not the police will take him seriously or not is another issue. If it amounts to Stalking, he could file an application for a protective order without involving the police, and then any future violation of that order would be a separate crime that the police are required to enforce.
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