Communicating A Threat

[schea]

What is the name of your state? North Carolina

Make a long story short, I'm a 2nd assistant to a restaurant, stores closed, an employee (who didnt take his meds) is in a bad mood and starts cussing me out & after so much verbal abuse I join in on the jousting and he throws his uniform on the ground, flips me off & calls me a **** sucker lol. I fire him.
This happens in front of two of my employees who witnessed everything.
Two days later the man who I fired takes out a communicating a threat charge on me, in the warrant it says "I threatend to break his neck", this is totally false and very laughable.
Now I gotta appear in Night Court, both the people who where there with us said they would defend me in court and tell the judge or whomever that I never made that threat.

But what worries me is when I was 18 I got in some major trouble, I caught a felony charge and a handful of misdemeanors.
I'm 25 now, a business student & in charge of running a restaurant, handling the crew and all the money.

With everything I told you, should I be worried & what is it I should do?

My court date is June 19th.

Thxs for your help.

 

[seniorjudge]

What is the name of your state? North Carolina

Make a long story short, I'm a 2nd assistant to a restaurant, stores closed, an employee (who didnt take his meds) is in a bad mood and starts cussing me out & after so much verbal abuse I join in on the jousting and he throws his uniform on the ground, flips me off & calls me a **** sucker lol. I fire him.
This happens in front of two of my employees who witnessed everything.
Two days later the man who I fired takes out a communicating a threat charge on me, in the warrant it says "I threatend to break his neck", this is totally false and very laughable.
Now I gotta appear in Night Court, both the people who where there with us said they would defend me in court and tell the judge or whomever that I never made that threat.

But what worries me is when I was 18 I got in some major trouble, I caught a felony charge and a handful of misdemeanors.
I'm 25 now, a business student & in charge of running a restaurant, handling the crew and all the money.

With everything I told you, should I be worried & what is it I should do?

My court date is June 19th.

Thxs for your help.

Q: With everything I told you, should I be worried & what is it I should do?

A: Yes. Reason? "...Now I gotta appear in Night Court...."


You are obviously ill-tempered and a hothead. Keep your mouth under control when you go to court.



Standard answer

Here are some hints on appearing in court:

Dress professionally in clean clothes.

Do not wear message shirts.

Don't chew gum, smoke, or eat. (Smokers...pot or tobacco...literally stink. Remember that before you head for court.)

Bathe and wash your hair.

Do not bring small children or your friends.

Go to court beforehand some day before you actually have to go to watch how things go.

Speak politely and deferentially. If you argue or dispute something, do it professionally and without emotion.

Ask the court clerk who you talk to about a diversion (meaning you want to plead to a different, lesser charge), if applicable in your situation. Ask about traffic school and that the ticket not go on your record, if applicable. Ask also about getting a hardship driving permit, if applicable. Ask about drug court, if applicable.

From marbol:

“Judge...

You forgot the one thing that I've seen that seems to frizz up most judges these days:

If you have a cell phone, make DAMN SURE that it doesn't make ANY noise in the courtroom. This means when you are talking to the judge AND when you are simply sitting in the court room.

If you have a ‘vibrate’ position on your cell phone, MAKE sure the judge DOESN'T EVEN HEAR IT VIBRATE!

Turn it off or put it in silent mode where it flashes a LED if it rings. AND DON'T even DREAM about answering it if it rings.”

(Better yet, don’t carry your cell phone into the courtroom.)”


Here are five stories that criminal court judges hear the most (and I suggest you do not use them or variations of them):

1. I’ve been saved! (This is not religion specific; folks from all kinds of religious backgrounds use this one.)

2. My girlfriend/mother/sister/daughter/wife/ex-wife/niece/grandma/grand-daughter is pregnant/sick/dying/dead/crippled/crazy and needs my help.

3. I’ve got a job in [name a state five hundred miles away].

4. This is the first time I ever did this. (This conflicts with number 5 below, but that hasn’t stopped some defendants from using both.)

5. You’ve got the wrong guy. (A variation of this one is the phantom defendant story: “It wasn’t me driving, it was a hitchhiker I picked up. He wrecked the car, drug me behind the wheel then took off.” Or, another variation: “I was forced into it by a bad guy!”)

https://forum.freeadvice.com/showthread.php?p=854687#post854687

Public defender’s advice

http://newyork.craigslist.org/about/best/sfo/70300494.html


Other people may give you other advice; stand by.

 

[schea]

Is it serious enough that it warrants me hiring an attorney, or would I be ok asking for a court appointed or even handling it myself?

 

[JETX]

Is it serious enough that it warrants me hiring an attorney

ANY criminal charge warrants getting legal counsel.

or would I be ok asking for a court appointed

Depends on your financial status.

or even handling it myself?

When DID you pass the bar?? (and I don't mean the one on the way home!!).