Terrorists Threats

A terrorist threat is the threat to commit an act violence that instills fear or threatens to intimidate or panic another individual(s) with reckless disregard of any consequences. Terrorists threats can be directed at a human beings or can be made against a building or national symbol.  While the reason behind terrorist threats is not always clear, many terrorist threats are done to bring attention to a religious or political agenda.

The majority of terrorist threats are aimed at airplanes, bridges, underground train tunnels, buildings, stadiums, assemblies, or any other location where mass amounts of people gather.  Terrorists also threaten to carry out kidnappings or violent crimes against other individuals.

A terrorist threat is not just considered a threat on a grand national scale. Hate crimes, school violence, domestic violence, and bomb threats can also be considered a terrorist threat. There are five general elements used to determine if an act is considered a terrorist threat:

• The accused makes a threat to commit a crime that will result in great bodily injury or death. These threats can be done orally, electronically, or in writing.
• The fear instilled by the terrorist threat is a reasonable fear.
• The terrorist threat causes actual fear in people. In California, this fear must be sustained for more than a brief instant.
• The terrorist threat was made with the intent to be just a threat. This means the terrorist made a threat to do something, but never had the intention to actually carry out the act he/she threatened to do.
• The terrorist threat is unconditional, unequivocal, and specific, which leads any reasonable person to believe that the threat will indeed be carried out. This basically means that the terrorist threat is very specific and the terrorist confirms the he/she definitely will carry out the threat

In the wake of the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 and the War on Terror, making any sort of terrorist threat is a serious federal crime in the United States. Even people who jokingly make terrorist threats can be prosecuted. The punishment for making terrorist threats depend on the severity of the threat and the state the threat occurred in. Individuals convicted of making terrorist threats can face imprisonment, hefty fines, parole or probation, loss of constitutional rights, rehabilitation, and in some cases capital punishment.

Law enforcement officials and the courts take terrorist threats very seriously. If you have been charged with making terrorist threats in the Los Angeles area, it is vital to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. The legal expertise of a skilled criminal defense attorney can drastically improve your chances in a court of law. A knowledgeable attorney can protect your rights and present you with legal options and extensive resources.

The Law Offices of Richard Sudar have successfully represented clients charged with making terrorist threats in the Los Angeles area. The Law Offices of Richard Sudar are committed to fighting on behalf of your best interest and legal rights.  If you are in need of an experienced criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles, call the Law Offices of Richard Sudar today!


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