TERRORIST & BOMB THREATS DEFENSE LAWYER ORANGE COUNTY, CA

What is Involved in a Terrorist Threat?

The State of California takes terrorist and bomb threats very seriously. Generally speaking, terrorist threats occur when an individual threatens to kill or hurt persons with the intention of intimidating others. For instance, threatening to set off a bomb at a local school is an example of a terrorist threat. Threatening emails sent to an abortion clinic or religious establishment could be interpreted as terrorist threats as well.

Sometimes, terrorist threats involve individual threats made against local families for their religious, political, or ethnic association. Terrorist threats are made over the phone, in writing, by email, or through any other electronic means. Any action or message that is used to instill fear in a person or group of people can be viewed as a terrorist threat. CA Code § 422 and CA Code § 148.1 address terrorist and bomb threats.

UNDERSTANDING CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE § 422

CA Penal Code § 422 addresses terrorist threats in the State of California. To convict an individual, prosecutors must be able to demonstrate that you threatened to kill or cause significant bodily injury. The threat must be made against another person or persons and is only considered a terrorist threat if the act is intentional and deliberate. In other words, the action is not a threat unless it was intended to be hostile.

If the action or message is misconstrued or misinterpreted, the defendant did not actually commit an offense under CA Penal Code § 422. Finally, prosecution must demonstrate that the message actually caused a significant amount of reasonable fear. If the fear was unfounded or irrational, the defendant did not actually threaten an act of terrorism.