Defending Criminal Threats in California

PC 422 – The Statute and the Jury Instructions

Section 422 of the California Penal Code reads as follows:

(a) Any person who willfully threatens to commit a crime which will result in death or great bodily injury to another person, with the specific intent that the statement, made verbally, in writing, or by means of an electronic communication device, is to be taken as a threat, even if there is no intent of actually carrying it out, which, on its face and under the circumstances in which it is made, is so unequivocal, unconditional, immediate, and specific as to convey to the person threatened, a gravity of purpose and an immediate prospect of execution of the threat, and thereby causes that person reasonably to be in sustained fear for his or her own safety or for his or her immediate family’s safety, shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one year, or by imprisonment in the state prison.

(b) For purposes of this section, “immediate family” means any spouse, whether by marriage or not, parent, child, any person related by consanguinity or affinity within the second degree, or any other person who regularly resides in the household, or who, within the prior six months, regularly resided in the household.

(c) “Electronic communication device” includes, but is not limited to, telephones, cellular telephones, computers, video recorders, fax machines, or pagers. “Electronic communication” has the same meaning as the term defined in Subsection 12 of Section 2510 of Title 18 of the United States Code.

At the same time, the applicable jury instruction for PC 422 can be found under Cal Crim 1300 and provides jurors with the following direction when evaluating evidence when the defendant has been charged with PC 422 (Criminal Threats):

The defendant is charged [in Count ] with having made a criminal threat [in violation of Penal Code section 422]. To prove that the defendant is guilty of this crime, the People must prove that:1. The defendant willfully threatened to unlawfully kill or unlawfully cause great bodily injury to <insert name of complaining witness or member[s] of complaining witness’s immediate family>;2. The defendant made the threat (orally/in writing/by electronic communication device);3. The defendant intended that (his/her) statement be understood as a threat [and intended that it be communicated to<insert name of complaining witness>]; 4. The threat was so clear, immediate, unconditional, and specific that it communicated to <insert name of complaining witness> a serious intention and the immediate prospect that the threat would be carried out; 5. The threat actually caused <insert name of complaining witness> to be in sustained fear for (his/her) own safety [or for the safety of (his/her) immediate family]; AND 6. ‘s <insert name of complaining witness> fear was reasonable under the circumstances. Someone commits an act willfully when he or she does it willingly or on purpose. In deciding whether a threat was sufficiently clear, immediate, unconditional, and specific, consider the words themselves, as well as the surrounding circumstances. Someone who intends that a statement be understood as a threat does not have to actually intend to carry out the threatened act [or intend to have someone else do so]. Great bodily injury means significant or substantial physical injury. It is an injury that is greater than minor or moderate harm. Sustained fear means fear for a period of time that is more than momentary, fleeting, or transitory.

Ok, so what are the elements of a criminal threats charge under PC 422 in plain English?

In order for the prosecution to sustain a conviction under PC 422 for criminal threats, they must be able to prove each of the following elements “beyond a reasonable doubt:”

The Defendant threatened to kill or cause great bodily injury to the “victim”

AND

The threat was made verbally, in writing, or by electronic means

AND

The statement was intended to be communicated as a threat

AND

The threat was clear and specifically directed towards the complaining witness (“victim”)

AND

The threat actually caused the “victim” to become fearful for his/her safety

AND

The “victim’s” perceived fear was objectively reasonable under the circumstances.

As you can see, several of the aforementioned elements of PC 422 come with a level of subjectivity. Accordingly, the District Attorney’s Office needs to not only decide if they will in fact file PC 422 charges against any individual defendant, but also if they will be seeking a criminal threats conviction as a felony or a misdemeanor.

Criminal threats under PC 422 can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony

Certain criminal charges, including PC 422 for criminal threats, are known as “wobblers.” While a “wobbler” might sound like a funny description in the context of criminal law, its consequences are no laughing matter.

Certain crimes are always classified as felonies (murder, for example), and others are always classified as misdemeanors (petty theft for example). The third category of crimes are known as “wobblers,” which means they can be filed as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending upon the prosecutor’s discretion (Judges also sometimes have discretion in this context). PC 422 is a wobbler, meaning that depending upon the perceived severity of the act (and the defendant’s record or lack thereof), criminal threats charges can be filed as a misdemeanor or a felony.

There are very substantial differences between facing criminal threat charges as a misdemeanor versus a felony. For example, a misdemeanor conviction of PC 422 yields a maximum penalty of one year in the county jail and a $1,000 fine, while a felony conviction carries up to 3 years in California State Prison and a $10,000 fine (a 4^th year of prison becomes possible if a firearm was used while making criminal threats).

To make matters worse, a charge of PC 422 can be construed as a “strike” under California’s “three strikes law,” potentially leading to even more serious consequences depending upon the Defendant’s criminal background and the prospect of any future convictions.

Examples of PC 422 (criminal threats)

While individual circumstances vary greatly, below are some common examples of when PC 422 charges might be filed:

EX: Charlie walks into a bar and holds a knife to the bartender’s neck while threatening, “I will cut you right now!” This likely would constitute a criminal threat under PC 422.

EX: Crystal emails her college criminal justice professor stating, “If you don’t make your lectures more entertaining than you better watch yourself. I wouldn’t want you to consume arsenic with your coffee.” This message, delivered by electronic means, is also likely a criminal threat under PC 422, unless Crystal and her professor had a twisted, morbid sense of humor, with their course of dealing rendering it unreasonable for the professor to interpret Crystal’s email literally.

EX: A defensive NFL football player yells over the line of scrimmage at the quarterback during the last two minutes of the fourth quarter, “You’re a dead man!”

This threat in the context of a professional football game would likely not be construed as a criminal threat under PC 422 since a reasonable person (in this instance, the quarterback) would likely perceive the “threat” as confined to the football field and within the context of an athletic contest, as opposed to a bona fide warning regarding an impending homicide.

Defenses to criminal threats (PC 422)

There are numerous defenses to a criminal threats charge under PC 422.

A common defense is that the defendant did not intend for his/her communication to be threatening in any way. EX: Sending a text message that was fully intended as a joke, even though the recipient believed it to be a bona fide threat.

This can be distinguished from a sincere threat that was never interpreted as such by the recipient of the communication. EX: Sending a text message that was intended as a threat, however, the recipient believed it to be a joke.

Another defense can be when the threat was not directed at the “victim” at all. EX: The threatening text message was accidentally sent to the wrong person.

Vague or ambiguous comments may be defensible depending upon the context in which such statements were made. EX: Defendant says “Just wait and see what happens” to the “victim” in the context of a heated argument. Prior course of dealing and many other contextual factors will likely be dispositive.

Crimes related to Criminal Threats under PC 422

There are numerous other crimes that are related, but distinct from criminal threats under PC 422. Some select examples, include:

PC 273.6, which constitutes violating an existing restraining order

PC 136.1, for dissuading a witness

PC 653m, encompassing annoying or harassing phone calls

PC 518, which involves extortion

PC 601, for aggravated trespass

The Aron Law Firm Has Experience Defending Criminal Threats in California

At the Aron Law Firm, we view each and every client as a unique individual and we tailor our representation, accordingly. We take a thoughtful approach in all we do and would appreciate any opportunity to discuss your needs in confidence and without obligation.

The Aron Law Firm is led by Attorney William M. Aron, a former prosecutor and graduate of the Duke University School of Law, whom clients have entrusted with their legal matters – big or small – since 2004.