Grinsporked
New member
North Carolina
After months of altercations with my neighbors, we came to an agreement to text each other whenever we were letting our dogs out, because if they were all out at the same time they fought. My yard is completely fenced in, theirs isn't. We texted from October 1 to December 8, when my neighbor spotted my security camera on my window and immediately assumed it was recording her yard. It is on my yard, but before I could tell her this she told me she was blocking my number and not to contact her anymore.
The next day she texted me "Know what time it is?
" and I responded "enlighten me." She said no need to, quit texting me or I'll be forced to take other measures. I replied "ok but you texted me first" to which she said she was pressing charges. She went to the magistrate and swore in that I was harassing her over the phone, and I was sent a criminal summons for "harassing phone calls." We never once spoke on the phone, only texted, and I only texted her when I was letting my dogs out or, at her texted request, when her other dog was howling, because he howled constantly. She works out of town Monday through Thursday and would call her boyfriend every night to bring the dog in, which he never did, so I would text her when the dog woke me, my husband, and our 10 month old daughter up. Again, she told me to and I have proof in our text messages.
I met with a criminal defense lawyer today, who read the texts, and though he agrees I never harassed her, says there are judges that would convict me. I have no record at all, not even a traffic violation. My neighbor has to have doctored the texts for the magistrate to have issued the criminal summons. Our texts were always amicable, and even when the howling dog woke us up at night, I only texted her once at a time, I didn't spam her with messages. She would respond later, usually between 8-10 am. I didn't cuss at her, I stayed patient even though I was only getting a few hours of broken sleep, and work full time.
What should I do? I can't understand how I could be convicted when the texts are clearly 2 way conversations, not just me texting her, and certainly not me threatening her. I filed restraining orders against her and her live in boyfriend prior to us agreeing to text, but was denied even though they had both come onto our property multiple times and threatened us.
I have every text message between us, video of them threatening us, and proof that the charge against me is bogus. I plan to talk to other lawyers, but I wanted several opinions. I just want these people to leave us alone. We can't afford to move, which is what the lawyer I met with today told me to do. I know that's the best option but we just financially aren't there. What can I charge my neighbors with, and how can I defend myself in court? They shine flashlights in our windows, wait for us to get home and try to intimidate us, and though I have no proof, my dogs are now pooping blood, and a veterinarian confirmed it wasn't due to any illness they could have contracted. I suspect they're throwing things in our yard to harm our dogs. I'm at my wit's end.
After months of altercations with my neighbors, we came to an agreement to text each other whenever we were letting our dogs out, because if they were all out at the same time they fought. My yard is completely fenced in, theirs isn't. We texted from October 1 to December 8, when my neighbor spotted my security camera on my window and immediately assumed it was recording her yard. It is on my yard, but before I could tell her this she told me she was blocking my number and not to contact her anymore.
The next day she texted me "Know what time it is?
" and I responded "enlighten me." She said no need to, quit texting me or I'll be forced to take other measures. I replied "ok but you texted me first" to which she said she was pressing charges. She went to the magistrate and swore in that I was harassing her over the phone, and I was sent a criminal summons for "harassing phone calls." We never once spoke on the phone, only texted, and I only texted her when I was letting my dogs out or, at her texted request, when her other dog was howling, because he howled constantly. She works out of town Monday through Thursday and would call her boyfriend every night to bring the dog in, which he never did, so I would text her when the dog woke me, my husband, and our 10 month old daughter up. Again, she told me to and I have proof in our text messages.I met with a criminal defense lawyer today, who read the texts, and though he agrees I never harassed her, says there are judges that would convict me. I have no record at all, not even a traffic violation. My neighbor has to have doctored the texts for the magistrate to have issued the criminal summons. Our texts were always amicable, and even when the howling dog woke us up at night, I only texted her once at a time, I didn't spam her with messages. She would respond later, usually between 8-10 am. I didn't cuss at her, I stayed patient even though I was only getting a few hours of broken sleep, and work full time.
What should I do? I can't understand how I could be convicted when the texts are clearly 2 way conversations, not just me texting her, and certainly not me threatening her. I filed restraining orders against her and her live in boyfriend prior to us agreeing to text, but was denied even though they had both come onto our property multiple times and threatened us.
I have every text message between us, video of them threatening us, and proof that the charge against me is bogus. I plan to talk to other lawyers, but I wanted several opinions. I just want these people to leave us alone. We can't afford to move, which is what the lawyer I met with today told me to do. I know that's the best option but we just financially aren't there. What can I charge my neighbors with, and how can I defend myself in court? They shine flashlights in our windows, wait for us to get home and try to intimidate us, and though I have no proof, my dogs are now pooping blood, and a veterinarian confirmed it wasn't due to any illness they could have contracted. I suspect they're throwing things in our yard to harm our dogs. I'm at my wit's end.
